Korea’s first ever grand prix was always going to have a place in the history books.
But taking nearly three hours to complete, it also became the longest world championship race since 1960. Read on for more stats and facts from the Korean Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso’s Korean Grand Prix win has the hallmarks of a tipping point. He’s now won more races than any other driver this year – five – and he set his fifth fastest lap of the year too, which is two more than anyone else.
Considering his win rate this year, it’s interesting to note three drivers have led more laps than Alonso in 2010:
Driver | Laps led |
Mark Webber | 315 |
Sebastian Vettel | 273 |
Jenson Button | 130 |
Fernando Alonso | 126 |
Lewis Hamilton | 100 |
Felipe Massa | 42 |
Nico Rosberg | 16 |
Sebastien Buemi | 1 |
But he has completed more laps than any one else this year: 994 out of a possible 1,003 so far. Next highest is Michael Schumacher with 952.
This was Alonso’s 26th win, putting him alone in sixth place on the all-time wins list. His 18th fastest lap matches David Coulthard’s career total.
Some of his career stats match up with his Ferrari predecessor Kimi Raikkonen at the moment: 155 starts from 157 appearances resulting in 62 podium finishes.
For Sebastian Vettel it’s another tale of pole position but no win – the seventh time that’s happened to him this year having taken nine pole positions over the course of the season.
He’s now had 14 pole positions, giving him as many as Rubens Barrichello, along with Alberto Ascari, James Hunt and Ronnie Peterson.
He retired from the lead with a mechanical failure for the second time this year – the same thing happened to him at Melbourne.
The drivers who’ve been let down by their cars the most so far this year are Bruno Senna and Jarno Trulli, each with seven non-finishes caused by car problems (Trulli crashed at Monaco but was still classified).
Vitantonio Liuzzi finished sixth, equalling his best ever career finish. He was sixth at Shanghai for Toro Rosso in 2007. Schumacher matched his best finish of the year with fourth place.
Twelfth place is the lowest position Jenson Button has finished in since his Honda days – he was 13th at Interlagos in 2008.
There were no points for Red Bull for the first time since last year’s European Grand Prix. That leaves McLaren as the only team to have scored in every race this year.
Nick Heidfeld has now scored as many points in the last three races as Pedro de la Rosa did in the first 14 – albeit with a rather more reliable car.
Mercedes marked their 300th appearance at an F1 weekend as an engine supplier, of which they started 299 races (excluding Indianapolis 2005).
Longest race since 1960
Because of the long stoppage, this was one of the longest races of recent times. Races rarely approach the two-hour limit (introduced in 1989, the 200-mile limit coming 18 years earlier), although they got close in Singapore this year.
The suspension at Korea meant the rule allowing the race duration to be extended was activated, and the race took two hours, 48 minutes, 20.810 seconds to complete.
The wet Monaco Grand Prix two years ago hit the two-hour limit and the year before that a downpour at the Nurburgring saw a race suspension and a total race time of two hours and six minutes.
You have to go back 50 years to find a championship round that took longer to complete. The Indianapolis 500 counted towards the title then, and Jim Rathman won that year’s race a time of 3:36’11.36.
To find a race run to F1 rules that took longer you have to go back one race further, to that year’s Monaco Grand Prix. Stirling Moss won that race, completing 100 laps in 2:53’45.5.
Find the updated 2010 season statistics here.
Spotted any more interesting stats and facts from the Korean Grand Prix weekend? Share them in the comments.
Formula 1
- “It should go red”: The leaders’ crucial radio calls during the Interlagos downpour
- How Leclerc “paid the price” for Ferrari’s bold but flawed strategy
- How Verstappen and Alpine were spared the worst tactical dilemma at Interlagos
- Brazilian GP win “definitely” better than celebrated 2016 performance – Verstappen
- McLaren have no regrets over pitting Norris shortly before red flag came out
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
25th October 2010, 7:07
yep, the same one after each race, the championship leader still hasn’t won a race. not looking good for fernando in brazil!
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
25th October 2010, 7:07
and therefore, the championship leader hasn’t won a race since jensen in turkey last year…
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th October 2010, 7:43
The fact that that statistic keeps holding is what’s kept this championship so competitive all year. Hopefully it continues in Brazil and we have an epic 4 or 5 way fight at Abu Dhabi.
Baracca
25th October 2010, 14:12
I seriously doubt that Jenson will still have a chance after Brazil. However, a 4-way fight is still quite possible and would be awesome
RobertG
25th October 2010, 20:00
I want to say Button is out of battle, but i still remember 2007…
José Baudaier
26th October 2010, 7:12
2007 was different. It only needed one driver to crash twice for Haikonnen to win. Now it would need probably four double crashes, much harder.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
25th October 2010, 7:09
Thanks for making me feel old Keith :P
But it’s an excellent point. I’ve had thousands of tweets since the race and no one else seems to have spotted it. Good job!
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
25th October 2010, 7:11
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
25th October 2010, 7:13
One of these days I’ll get a post right :p
Plushpile
25th October 2010, 7:13
I thought the 2 hour time clock kept running even after they red flagged the race, isn’t that what happened in Malaysia last year?
Or because they’d only done 3 laps was it stopped or something?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 7:38
The Malaysia race was never re-started, so race time ended when the suspension began, less than an hour after the start of the race.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
25th October 2010, 7:48
No, it was the light conditions in Malaysia that forced the race to be abandoned rather than the time limit. If you look at the section of the Sporting Regulations concerning the end of a race, it clearly states that the maximum duration for a race is two hours, plus the length of any suspensions.
The BBC commentators got this wrong last year, which caused a lot of confusion about it. Brundle even admitted he’d made that mistake when discussing Malaysia ’09 yesterday.
zecks
25th October 2010, 8:58
further to that, does anyone have any images to show what the light level was actually like at the end of the race? the tv footage was really misleading, but from what i could see the grandstands were virtually empty.
Emilssi
25th October 2010, 15:24
Being there at the grandstand I have to say that I was a bit surprised they let it run for so long as final 5 laps were really really dark – I’m sure the drivers were struggling a lot in those conditions
plushpile (@plushpile)
25th October 2010, 11:15
That clears it up, I was going off what they said from Malaysia 09.
Thanks
Toby Bushby
26th October 2010, 0:33
Malaysia ’09. Remember the furore (rightly deserved, in my opinion) over the start time? Bernie and his twilight races to suit European audiences.
Australia ’09 saw alot of complaints from drivers about light conditions – another twilight race.
Now we have the Korean GP finishing in near darkness – with a start time of 3pm, same as Brazil ’09.
When will the FIA step in and stop Bernie starting these races so late? Some rain forcing a race suspension, a heavy shunt in an awkward place, overcast skies etc. and it becomes downright dangerous. What else are the FIA there for if not driver safety? grr
Toby Bushby
26th October 2010, 0:35
* I meant Brazil ’08, sorry.
sam
27th October 2010, 0:27
I completely agree, and getting up early for a race only adds to the excitement!
alexf1man
25th October 2010, 7:29
Fernando has never won in Brazil, but if he does:
Webber must be not be on the podium for Alonso to clinch it :( (helped of course by Germany)
xxiinophobia
25th October 2010, 8:14
Not quite:
If Alonso wins Brazil, Webber can stay in the fight with a 4th place finish, regardless of what anyone else does.
Pete Walker
25th October 2010, 11:33
In winning the Korean Grand Prix Alonso has now taken victories on 14 of the current calendar’s 19 venues (74%) – matching Schumacher. A win in either of the remaining events will see him move clear.
Current ‘calendar domination’ standings for current drivers:
Schumacher – 14 (74%)
Alonso – 14 (74%)
Hamilton – 10 (53%)
Button – 8 (42%)
Barrichello – 7 (37%)
Vettel – 7 (37%)
Massa – 6 (32%)
Webber – 5 (26%)
Trulli – 1 (5%)
Kubica – 1 (5%)
Kovalainen – 1 (5%)
As a sidenote, the circuit that has provided victories for the highest number of current drivers is the Hungaroring with seven. Silverstone, Shanghai and Monaco are next with six.
All utterly pointless stats of course, but interesting nonetheless!
Red Andy (@red-andy)
25th October 2010, 12:01
I think before Hamilton won there a second time in 2009, the Hungaroring had seen a different driver win there every year going back to the early part of the decade. It’s also the case that no one has won at Shanghai twice (Barrichello, Alonso, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Vettel and Button won there from 2004-2010).
Raymond
25th October 2010, 7:33
AGAIN, whenever Vettel is on course to lead the championship, disaster strikes.
RobertG
26th October 2010, 17:18
Kinda true fact actually
zecks
25th October 2010, 7:39
keith i think it’s time to bring that point predictor program back to the top thread
LewisC
25th October 2010, 11:25
I was playing with that a minute ago.
If Alonso wins in Brazil and Webber is fifth or below, it’s all over (2nd places isn’t enough for Vettel).
But if Webber wins the last two, Alonso’s lead is not enough, even if he comes second twice.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
25th October 2010, 7:49
There can’t be many races where the safety car has led more laps than the eventual race winner.
Mike
25th October 2010, 9:32
Yeah, I can’t believe no team has picked Mayländer up, I mean, Imagine what he could do with a competitive car!
Ben
25th October 2010, 11:42
I know its not F1, but as a side note: I was at a race a number of years ago where (due to weather) the safety car spent so long on track it ran out of fuel! It came into pits in the nick of time and the medical car took over as pace car for a couple of laps while they refueled.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
25th October 2010, 12:02
I think Ted Kravitz mentioned during the race that this is also the procedure for F1, if the safety car was out for so long it ran out of fuel (although they may actually have a spare safety car rather than using the course car or the medical car). It’s never actually happened yet though.
Paul Gilbert
25th October 2010, 13:35
Brazil 2003 was another such race.
Lustigson
25th October 2010, 7:52
If the WDC leader’s position is jinxed, Alonso will likely break it, since Massa will likely be good at Interlagos, only for him to give up the victory by letting Alonso through for the championship’s sake.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th October 2010, 8:19
The Bulls both ran fantastically at Interlagos last year though. Vettel drove to 4th from 16th, and Webber won. I don’t think Alonso’s going to break that streak.
Todfod (@todfod)
25th October 2010, 8:20
Really doubt that Massa will be leading the Brazilian GP. OK, he has a good record there, but he had an even better record of performances in Turkey, and the best he could manage there was 7th position this year.
David-A (@david-a)
25th October 2010, 15:41
That was when Ferrari’s performance fell behind that of Mclaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Renault, though.
But it is unlikely he’ll take pole or be leading.
Ads21
25th October 2010, 13:04
The dream scenario for Brazil would be Massa leading home a Ferrari 1-2 with the other title contenders retiring, then Alonso would win the title but Massa the race. Never going to happen though.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th October 2010, 19:04
You must mean the nightmare scenario. I think you got your words mixed up. ;-)
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 8:26
Alonso has yet to win a race this year by overtaking someone on track. In Bahrain, Germany and Korea the leader suffered a problem (why did Massa’s engine suddenly produce so much less power than Alonso’s ;)), in Monza it was pit strategy after losing the lead from the line and in Singapore (somewhat unfairly for this stat) he led from pole.
Vettel has only not won from starting first once, his Turn 1 pass in Malaysia.
Webber has won from not starting first from a better start in Silverstone and strategy in Hungary.
Button has won twice from strategy, once having fallen down the order to leap them in the pits.
Hamilton has won once from (re-)overtaking (and misfortune), once from a good start but crucially remains the only driver to win a race this year that overtook a rival (Alonso) on the track itself.
Not meant as a criticism of any drivers (how can you criticise Alonso’s Singapore victory just because he started on pole?), just an interesting fact.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 8:41
OK, but how many drivers this year have won races by overtaking others? Regrettably it doesn’t happen that often.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 8:57
No, it doesn’t happen enough. In a way, that could have been the point of my post (except it was about Hamilton).
Kenneth
25th October 2010, 9:20
Lewis Hamilton Overtook, Alonso,&Webber in Canada and won the race
Todfod (@todfod)
25th October 2010, 8:53
There hasn’t been enough overtaking amongst the top 5 drivers this year. As you pointed out other than a Buemi assisted overtake made by Hamilton, there has been no lead change due to an overtake. Its not just Alonso who has to yet overtake and win a race, it is also Webber, Vettel and Button.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 8:58
Yeh, darn that Buemi, without him Alonso wouldn’t have been overtaken by Button and finished 9 seconds adrift of the winner…
Steve
25th October 2010, 9:13
There has been plenty overtaking at the front. It just mostly always results in an accident :P
Racer (@racer)
25th October 2010, 11:35
Completely false. Button overtook Rosberg for the lead in China, Button overtook Hamilton for the lead in Turkey, Hamilton overtook Button for the lead in Turkey, Hamilton overtook Webber for the lead in Canada. The McLaren drivers certainly know how to overtake.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 12:03
Well, Rosberg went off the road more than anything. I think Button was slightly gaining on him though, I’m not sure.
Racer (@racer)
25th October 2010, 12:24
Button overtook Rosberg for the lead on the track by slipstreaming him down the long back straight. Rosberg had gone off a few corners earlier, which allowed Button to catch up, but he had recovered back on to the strack still several car lenghts ahead of Button. Maybe Rosberg had a bit less momentum than he would have had if he hadn’t made is error, but since so many overtaking moves are triggered by something like this, to say that it wasn’t an overtaking move would be ridiculous. If you don’t believe me you can watch a video of it here: http://www.univision.com/uv/video/F1-China-2010-Button-%FCberholt-Rosberg-SK/id/1531911231
sulzerpower
25th October 2010, 16:04
I seem to remember Vettel overtaking Webber for the lead in Turkey :) well, he got past him didn’t he?
Toby Bushby
26th October 2010, 0:40
Webber on Vettel at Silverstone.
Gill
25th October 2010, 12:26
What I would say is that Fernando is a better defender than attacker.
He fancies himself defending his position rather than attacking it but that is also a skill and not many have that.
Joey-Poey
25th October 2010, 17:51
Clearly he’s better at defending than attacking, otherwise you might have expected him to overtake in Germany.
tony
25th October 2010, 8:31
If the next two races finish Vettel, Webber, ALonso then Alonso is WDC.
Mef
25th October 2010, 8:52
Would someone be able to display the standings under the old scoring system please?
Would be interesting to see.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 9:00
Fernando Alonso (81)
Mark Webber (75)
Lewis Hamilton (72)
Sebastian Vettel (69)
Jenson Button (59)
Red Andy (@red-andy)
25th October 2010, 12:03
So Button would already be out of it. Interesting.
LewisC
25th October 2010, 12:46
Now that’s interesting. Under last year’s system Button is already out of it…
plushpile (@plushpile)
27th October 2010, 6:54
Thats one of the consequences of extending points down to 10th…
xxiinophobia
25th October 2010, 8:56
Okay, let me try this…
If Alonso wins Brazil:
– Button, Vettel and Hamilton are all eliminated from WDC contention.
– Webber will be eliminated by finishing 5th or worse.
Should Webber not be eliminated in Brazil (still assuming Alonso wins Brazil):
– 4th in Brazil:
– – ABU: Webber P1 + Alonso P11 or worse = Webber is WDC; else, Alonso WDC
– 3rd in Brazil:
– – ABU: Webber P1 + Alonso P9 or worse = Webber is WDC, else Alonso WDC
– 2nd in Brazil:
– – ABU: Webber P1 + Alonso P7 or worse = Webber is WDC, else Alonso WDC
So, realistically, Alonso winning Brazil means Webber must win Abu Dhabi while Alonso DNFs (or has a Korean Button-esque race).
zecks
25th October 2010, 9:02
alonso will not win in brazil, he will play it safe and finish 3rd/4th beacuse that is all he needs
Baracca
25th October 2010, 10:21
I bet he’d like to win in Brazil! Ok, he’ll not be taking crazy risks for the win (as Lewis might, a 2nd place is not good enough for him, especially if Fernando wins), but will try to win nevertheless. It would almost mean the WDC, depending on Mark’s position.
If I were him and Lewis or Seb were all over my back, I’d let them pass. But I’d defend from Mark. Fernando will probably choose to defend from any of them anyway, if the situation arises.
I would really like Felipe to win in Brazil. A Felipe-Fernando ticket is highly unlikely, because Ferrari would prefer a switch (unless Mark is off the points). But it could well be a Felipe-Mark-Fernando podium, which would make for an interesting weekend in Yas Marina. Ferrari would never give the victory to Mark so that Fernando could end on top of Felipe, that would be more damaging for the present advantage of Fernando (would be reduced to 4 pts instead of 8).
Baracca
25th October 2010, 10:50
“(unless Mark is off the points)”
… And Lewis is nor 3rd, I must add. Alonso 2nd and Lewis 3rd would give Lewis the slimmest chance of a WDC in Yas Marina (needing the win + Fernando off the points).
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
25th October 2010, 10:24
but if he finishes 4th and webber wins, then webber would retake the lead going to abu dhabi. i don’t think alonso’s one to play it safe, particularly when it’s still so close.
Chris P
25th October 2010, 8:58
Thought it was interesting that Hamilton started 4th, was overtaken twice, overtook nobody on track and finished 2nd.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 9:04
Worrying. Though of course one overtake was the guy he didn’t overtake on the track.
I guess it shows that reliability > not making a mistake > speed. Sometimes.
Ads21
25th October 2010, 13:22
“reliability > not making a mistake > speed”
but as Keith pointed out Alonso had so much speed he was 2 seconds faster than everyone in the closing stages. We’ll never know for sure but its arguable he may have gotten past Vettel anyway.
bradley13
25th October 2010, 9:12
Another Stat for you, for the last 4 years the WDC has been won by the driver who has won the first Grand Prix, Alonso – Bahrain 2006, Raikkonen – Australia 2007, Hamilton – Australia 2008, Button – Australia 2009, Alonso – Bahrain 2010?
Racer (@racer)
25th October 2010, 11:40
Is it the first race of is it the Australian GP? (Alonso won Australia 2006 as well, so it works either way). Button’s closer to the lead than Raikkonen was in 2007, so who’s to say he can’t emulate him?
Red Andy (@red-andy)
25th October 2010, 12:07
No he isn’t. With two races to go in 2007, Hamilton needed the equivalent of a fifth place finish (4pts) to eliminate Raikkonen. Alonso needs the equivalent of a sixth place finish (8pts) to eliminate Button.
Racer (@racer)
25th October 2010, 12:14
Yes he is. Raikkonen was 17 points behind Hamilton. Using the points for a win ratio (25:10) Button is 16.8 points behind Alonso. So there.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
25th October 2010, 16:32
That ratio only works for P1, not for any of the other positions. Otherwise eighth place would be worth 2.5 points.
Racer (@racer)
25th October 2010, 16:50
But it’s the big poiints positions that matter in this instance ;)
Osvaldas31
25th October 2010, 10:10
I think Vettel will better Schumacher’s most pole position record some day. He is 23 years old, and he already has 14 pole positions under his belt.
Baracca
25th October 2010, 10:25
Maybe but it depends on the car also. I don’t believe that the ridiculous advantage RBR has had in quali sessions all this year will continue indefinitely.
LewisC
25th October 2010, 12:50
Shame there aren’t points for pole any more, isn’t it… The race is on Sunday, Seb. ;)
wasiF1
25th October 2010, 10:41
Not sure whether it deserves to be posted here, but the Korean Track is the 68th track that has held a Formula 1 championship race since 1950.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 10:44
Nice one, thanks Wasi!
It’s also joins the list of tracks to have held just one world championship race. Here’s the rest: The one-off Grand Prix tracks
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
25th October 2010, 11:14
are you implying something there keith? haha
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 11:16
Ah, no, I reckon they’ll be fine. Hope so too, I must say I wasn’t impressed with my first look at the track but it’s grown on me.
Stretch (@stretch)
25th October 2010, 11:27
Wanna hope it lasts otherwise it was an entertaining $264 million race!
Burnout
25th October 2010, 13:17
I’ll like it when either
a) there’s a cracker of a dry-weather race
or b) wet weather is an inevitable annual feature, kinda like Fuji.
I’ll probably have a concrete opinion of the Yeongam circuit next season.
colin grayson
25th October 2010, 10:48
nobody notice that the unluckiest driver after vettel was rosberg ? mercedes clearly got the set up just right for the conditions and I reckon that rosberg was heading for at least a podium finish as things worked out ; just look at where schu finished !
maybe I am wrong but were mercedes adjusting the front suspension settings during the red flag period ? ross strikes again perhaps ?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 10:56
Nobody noticed? I Tweeted it during the race: http://twitter.com/f1fanatic_co_uk/status/28579011194
Forget the podium, he was in front of Hamilton – who finished second – and given Alonso’s problem in the pits he could have been in contention for the win.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th October 2010, 19:16
Yeah, that really was a shame for Rosberg. Would’ve been great to see him score his first win, and if he’d lead Alonso with Hamilton in third we’d have a closer championship heading to Brazil:
ALO-224
WEB-220
HAM-207
VET-206
BasCB (@bascb)
28th October 2010, 19:01
That would have been an absolute dream first win for Rosberg, and highly deserved I think.
mastakink
25th October 2010, 10:58
Keith, for your historical stats..
With an average speed of 109.997 kph, is this the slowest GP ever?
I know it’s not the ‘true’ averege speed during the race, but it’s the official average speed posted by FIA, obtained dividing the total time (almost 3 hours) by the total length (300 kilometers).
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 11:06
No, there have been several slower races. The slowest of all was the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, won by Juan Manuel Fangio at an average of 98.701kph. The next slowest was also at Monaco, 100.776kph by Alain Prost in the famous shortened and very wet race in 1984.
Racer (@racer)
25th October 2010, 11:44
I think that says something about how much faster F1 cars have become…
mastakink
25th October 2010, 11:16
Oooops sorry, I put it on the wrong order, speed is distance divides by time…
I think I’ve to go back to the school…
mastakink
25th October 2010, 11:22
Ohhh my godness!!
Keith you were faster replying me than I fixing my mistake!!!
Keep this way Keith, you deserve the WBC…World Blog Championship!!!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 12:40
Thanks mastakink. Great username by the way!
Mark Young
25th October 2010, 11:08
The WDC has been decided at Brazil every year since 2005.
Bren
25th October 2010, 11:27
yep its interesting how even moving an event from end of season some years that the title still somehow decides its self at the same track, for years it was suzuka now brazil.
in 05 it was 3 from the end. 06,07,08 it was last and 09 & 10 it was one from last.
Ads21
25th October 2010, 13:33
Brazil is perfect for the title deciding race and I think everyone is with me in hoping the record continues this year :P
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th October 2010, 19:20
Um. No. I think the majority of fans want to see as many drivers in contention as long as possible. It keeps the sport interesting.
BasCB (@bascb)
28th October 2010, 19:03
Actually I would love it to see 4 drivers still with a good shot at winning it in Abu Dhabi.
Just imagine having different possibilities during the race and Lewis risking an overtake on Fernando or Vettel barging into Mark to stop him from winning it. Or even Button winning it to enable Hamilton to have a chance to overtake Vettel for the WDC.
M Sakr
25th October 2010, 12:04
According to the man himself, this was Alonso’s first win in the rain!! Believe it or not!
sato113
25th October 2010, 12:29
nope, europe 2007.
Ads21
25th October 2010, 13:35
I think he would say it was a wet-dry-wet race rather than a fully wet race. But it’s still amazing to think he hasn’t actually won that many times in changable or wet conditions, although Hungary 2006 was one of his finest drives.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 12:05
Comment from Uncle Bob moved here
AA
25th October 2010, 12:55
It’s not a 200 mile limit, it’s a 300km limit!
Enigma (@enigma)
25th October 2010, 15:26
It’s actually a 305km + finish a lap limit.
Paul Gilbert
25th October 2010, 13:33
This is the second time that Alonso has won a race with an official winning time of over 2 hours (the other being the aforementioned 2007 European GP).
It is also the second time that he has won the race immediately before the Brazilian GP after the leader’s engine failed (in both cases he took the lead in the Championship as a result).
Plus he is becoming a bit of a night-time specialist – 3 podiums from 3 races in Singapore, and now a brilliant piece of driving in diminishing light. And we still have Abu Dhabi to come…
And I am sure this has been pointed out before, but Vettel’s retirement seemed very similar to what happened in Bahrain – Alonso passed him just as Martin Brundle commented that his car sounded sick, and Hamilton and Massa also ended up on the podium.
And as for Red Bull, I believe the last time a team managed a double DNF despite locking out the front row was McLaren in Australia 2000 (they also managed this feat in Australia 1999). However, a more recent case of a double DNF for a team that ran 1st and 2nd for a while was Renault in Canada 2005.
And finally, this is the second time this season that Hamilton has gained as a result of losing a place – in Canada he was jumped by Vettel after a botched pit stop, and we know what happened next…
sato113
25th October 2010, 17:49
‘Alonso passed him just as Martin Brundle commented that his car sounded sick’
nah, i think brundle commented on it and vettel help up for around 1 lap, then Alonso passed.
sato113
25th October 2010, 17:50
in Bahrain that is.
PJ
25th October 2010, 15:12
If my hunch is right then Lap 4 was the slowest lap in the history of Formula 1.
sato113
25th October 2010, 17:51
01hr 10mins xxxxsecs ???
Andrew White
25th October 2010, 15:22
Alonso leads the championship for the first time since Australia. The championship lead has now changed nine times between five drivers (with Vettel having never led!).
Red Bull seem to be cursed by their 1-2 finishes. In the following race they have always done badly this year (China, Turkey, Korea).
After Button’s 12th place, Webber is now the only man to have not finished outside of the points this season. The only time he has not scored has been when he’s retired. Heidfeld also has this record, but has only competed in three races.
In the last three races there have been 26 retirements (of which two were classified). This is more than there were in the previous six races (25 from Europe to Italy).
The Korean race was longer than the British and Italian races combined.
Alonso was the first driver to win from off the front row since China.
If Red Bull outscore McLaren by 16 points in Brazil, they will clinch the Constructors’ Championship. Finishing 1-2 would be enough to do this.
Enigma (@enigma)
25th October 2010, 15:29
Klien also has the record of not finishing outside the points this season.
Jarred Walmsley
25th October 2010, 19:45
Klien?, I think maybe you have your drivers muddled up here
Enigma (@enigma)
25th October 2010, 20:00
Well he raced in Singapore and retired, so he hasn’t finished outside the points this season, like Heidfeld and Webber.
Andrew White
25th October 2010, 20:47
Technically yes, but that’s because he hasn’t finished at all!
xxiinophobia
26th October 2010, 16:52
You could argue the same for Hamilton as well. He was classified 14th in Spain, but was not running at the finish.
Alex
25th October 2010, 15:58
Hey, I thought Alonso overtook Vettel just before his engine blew up?
How come everyone seems to think that Alonso was gifted a victory from vettel’s engine failure? And also, Hamilton outbraked himself and went wide, allowing Alonso through… That was no gift either….
Pete Walker
25th October 2010, 17:01
Vettel’s engine was already on the way out as he ran down the S/F straight – both commentators and Stefano Domenicali noted it sounded sick on the run down to T1…
sato113
25th October 2010, 17:55
I wonder if HAM could have won had he not let Alonso through. I think ALO would have got him later anyway tbh.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th October 2010, 19:28
As Pete said, Vettel’s engine was already toast. It just hadn’t burst into flames. I didn’t notice it at the time and thought Vettel looked suspiciously laid back about letting Alonso by, but as soon as the showed the replay there was already smoke starting to pour out the back of the RB6 at that point. Vettel let Alonso through on the racing line because he knew he couldn’t defend and was likely done for.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
26th October 2010, 2:11
The headline says it all… Well done to all of the Europeans who stayed awake to watch such a long race! :)
Lobo
26th October 2010, 17:06
Another stat: after this GP, effectively Ferrari has won 100% of the Korean GPs celebrated to date :p
Paul Gilbert
26th October 2010, 17:30
McLaren’s 450th podium.
This race (Michael Schumacher’s 267th race) came exactly 7000 days after his first (thanks to Wikipedia for that one!).