*Bianchi qualified 20th but starts 21st following a five-place grid penalty
for a gearbox change.
**Raikkonen qualified fifth but starts 22nd after his car failed a front-floor
detection test, disqualifying him from qualifying.
12.20 So, that’s that then. All over for another year. Nothing really
worth tuning in for, now that Sebastian Vettel has tied up his fourth
drivers’ championship, right? 40 minutes until the parade lap – they’re all
parade laps now though – and F1 fans face that existential crisis known so
well by theologians and schoolchildren in the last week of summer term: why
are we here?
Well there’s a track, for starters. And next season to think about. And
bragging rights. Ending the year on a high, for some. Ending the career on a
high in the case of Red Bull’s Mark Webber, today’s pole-sitter alongside
his illustrious team-mate (use of mate strictly in the interests of protocol
– don’t expect Vettel to throw the Aussie a surprise retirement bash).
Webber was faultless in his last-gasp dash for the line in qualifying
yesterday, pipping Vettel and the two Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis
Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen was set to start fifth once upon a time, but
he’s been relegated to the back of the grid after his car then failed a
front-floor deflection test. It’s not really been his week, but more on that
later.
Quick Brit-watch update: Paul Di Resta and Jenson Button start
in 11th and 12th respectively, while Raikkonen will be looking at the
gearbox of Max Chilton on the grid. And Ferrari fans, look away now –
Felipe Massa starts in seventh while Fernando Alonso is back in 10th on a
track where the Prancing Horse has traditionally strugged. Still, thats five
times in six races the departing Massa has outqualified the Spaniard.
There’s plenty more to talk about besides. If you want in, drop me a line or a
tweet at the addresses above and I’ll make you famous…in the meantime,
here are some articles you may like to read between now and lights-out:
Report
on qualifying, with Mark Webber taking pole and Sebastian Vettel second
Adrian
Newey discussing the possibility of starting an America’s Cup team with Sir
Ben Ainslie
An
interview with Alain Prost, who outlines how Lewis Hamilton needs to change
Kimi
Raikkonen threatens not to race at season’s last two grand prixs if he
doesn’t get paid