I agree with everone this had to the best F-1 race in a long time. Now I hope NBC will cover the races as well next year.
SPOILER WARNING! . . . . . . . . There's been a lot of argument and discussion after the race over a particular incident involving Vettel. Here's McNish with some post-race analysis, including his wise (IMHO) comments re the Vettel incident. Race stewards insist that Sebastian Vettel overtake was made under yellow-red flags
More spoilage I'm not a race steward, but to me it sure looked like Vettel passed under the yellow. Wonder if Ferrari will appeal that decision? Not wise, FIA loves to hammer those who question them.
If you look at the video thats posted above, he definitely passed under yellow. I think his only saving grace is that Kamui immediately pulled into the pits and he did appear to slow up. You could almost make a case that Kamui slowed up to pit in and Vettel had to pass him. Either way, I don't think they are going to change it now.
Admittedly, I'm an Alonso fan, so I will put this out there: While Vettel won the championship, Alonso drove like a champion. Not just this race, but the whole season. Looking forward to next season. Time to decide which race to go to.
Alonso drove the best this season of his entire career, his skills and those skills alone propelled that chassis to the front and into contingency for the Championship. Alonso may not have won the official points Championship but in this fans eyes he was the best driver on the track weekend and week out. Well done indeed! :thumbup:
In my mind Alonso turned in the best drives this season. Yep Vettel won the championship, but in my eyes Alonso did more with less.
Spoiler...sort of: . . . . . . [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vDG3NOiqAE]Kimi Räikkönen gets lost in the track 2012 Brazilian GP - YouTube[/ame] Raikkonen: I knew where I was going (AutoSport.com)
SPOILERS FOR ANYONE WHO STILL HASN'T SEEN IT. . . . I'm not his biggest fan either, but he did have a hell of a drive, imo. After his accident in turn 4, he was at the back of the grid (probably why he didn't get punished for causing it, I think). He drove from the back to score with a wounded car in the rain. That takes some serious skill, and it wasn't a one-off either: He had the same kind of run in Abu Dhabi too, two races ago. I don't have to like the kid, but I cannot deny that he is a very, very skilled driver. Not to denigrate Alonso's accomplishments in this year's Ferrari at all, or to make light of his or my disappointment, but I think Vettel has earned some respect, even if it is grudging.
I don't think we need any more spoiler warnings. It's been 24 hours -- close enough -- and we've spilled the beans here already. Motorhead: Vettel the champion, Alonso the driver of the year (Eurosport)
Some interesting numbers hiding in here. The coldest track and air temp numbers (under "Other interesting numbers", page 2) make me wonder whether they should move the USGP back to June. 2012 Pirelli F1 Stats
We had a wicked cold front blow through that week. Case in point: It's gonna be a high of 84 today. It's too hot and muggy in June to run a race and expect fans to sit out with no shade. Trust me, weather in November is much better suited for a race.
Looking at that contact and the above picture in particular, with the wheel on wheel hit like that, the fact that he did not break the suspension is an absolute miracle. It would not be far fetched to say there was divine intervention that kept him in the race.
Agreed, and that's not even the hit that did the damage. He and Senna had already come together once, Senna's front right wheel to Vettel's car just in front of the left rear wheel (source of the damage to Vettel's car). This caused Vettel's spin before the collision seen just beginning in that pic. Amazing Vettel didn't retire from this one.