Alonso wins in Koreaposted in F124 | 10 | 2010
FERNANDO ALONSO emerged from the Korean gloom at 6pm local time having not only captured his third race win in four grands prix, but on course to become the 10th Ferrari driver to win the Formula One World Championship.
In atrociously testing wet conditions on the new 3.49-mile circuit, the Spaniard capitalised on an early error by Red Bull's Mark Webber — who crashed his car into a wall, taking out the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg in the process — and the disintegration of the Renault engine in the Red Bull of long time leader Sebastian Vettel. It was the first time both Red Bulls had failed to finish a race this season.
The victory means Alonso heads to the penultimate round of the championship in Brazil in a fortnight leading Webber by 11 points, and Lewis Hamilton, who nursed his McLaren home in second place, by 21. But the Ferrari driver admitted it's too early to be thinking he's clinched his third world title.
"Nothing has changed really," Alonso, who at the British Grand Prix in July was 47 points behind the championship leader, said. "We know with the new points system anything can happen in one race. If you don't score you lose 25 points to one of your main opponents, so nothing has changed really.
"Bad luck for Mark and Seb, but anything can happen. Being on the podium and being consistent is maybe key to the championship. We have been doing well in the last seven races, but in the final two we cannot forget we need to be on the podium and at least fighting for the victory.
"One result for one race does not change the picture of the championship. There are still four contenders, so we knew before coming here that every race is important to finish. Winning here is fantastic and every race we go to we aim to win, but that is not possible every weekend."
Webber meanwhile, who admitted the crash (pictured) was his fault, stated he believes he is still capable of winning the world championship.
"Of course I can still win the championship," Webber, who started the race with a 14-point advantage over Alonso, said. "Positions are not really important at the moment, the points are the important thing. They can change very quickly and this is my second non-finish of the year, but there are still two races to go and I will do my absolute best.
"The crash was totally my fault. I got a wheel on the kerb on the exit of Turn 12 and it was a very slow motion moment off the back of it. Totally my mistake. Today wasn't my day.
"It was a very long slide, frustrating. I thought I had done enough to correct it but in the end it wasn't enough. The wall obviously was close and did some damage, and then I wrecked Nico's race as well."
While Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa rounded off the podium, Michael Schumacher matched his best result of the season bring his Mercedes home fourth, ahead of Robert Kubica's Renault. Under pressure Tonio Liuzzi delivered an exemplary drive to finish sixth for Force India.
There was misery though for 2009 world champ Jenson Button who trailed in a disappointed 12th.
"My championship, if the other guys don't have non-scores or issues, is pretty much over," Button, now 42 points behind Alonso, admitted. "But you don't win championships by sitting back and saying 'I can't win it any more'. You have to keep on fighting. Seeing what's happened to the Red Bulls here proves it can turn around easily. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, it's a very small chance but that's all I need to keep pushing."
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Jim McGill
(Photo: Getty Images)