2012 Japanese Grand Prix Review and thoughts, Vettel vs Alonso it's now on and Korean Grand Prix predictions

2012 Japanese Grand Prix review of round fifteen of the F1 season at Suzuka, and thoughts on the race, and predictions for this weekends Korean Grand Prix.

Good points

• Sebastian Vettel (a grand slam, pole to finished with a race win and fastest lap too)
• Felipe Massa (finished 2nd, despite starting from 10th)
• Kamui Kobayashi (finished 3rd, third Japanese F1 driver ever to be on a F1 podium after Aguri Suzuki at Suzuka 1990 and Takuma Sato at Indianapolis 2004)
• Jenson Button (finished 4th, despite a gear-box change started from 8th)
• Nico Hülkenberg (finished 7th,despite a gear-box change started from 15th)
• Pastor Maldonado (finished 8th, first point finished since Barcelona)
• Daniel Ricciardo (finished 10th, just ahead of Michael Schumacher)

Bad points

• Fernando Alonso (DNF, first lap tagged with Kimi Raikkonen and also puncture)
• Romain Grosjean (finished 19th, first lap collision with Mark Webber which includes a 10 second stop and go penalty in the middle of the race)
• Mark Webber (finihed 9th, first lap collision with Romain Grosjean without that coullision would have put Mark Webber on the podium)
• Mercedes AMG (Nico Rosberg DNF, collision with Bruno Senna on the first lap; Michael Schumacher finished 11th, just a second behind Daniel Ricciardo despite having a ten place grid-penalty)
• Sergio Perez (DNF, spun out of hairpin corner on lap 20)
• Bruno Senna (finisehd 14th, collision with Nico Rosberg at the start and also, drive-through penalty as-well)
• Narain Karthikeyan (DNF, Vibrations)
• Charles Pic (DNF, Engine)

A dominating race weekend from the current world champion Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull, pole on Saturday to finished with a race win on Sunday and fastest lap too his third win of the season. And with Fernando Alonso having a first lap tagged with Kimi Raikkonen, which concluded with left rear puncture, which gives Alonso his second DNF of the season. Which, gives Vettel now only 4 points behind Alonso in the driver standings, Kimi Räikkönen now only 37 points behind Alonso and Lewis Hamilton only 42 points behind Alonso in the drivers championship with five races to go.

Also, quick mentions to both Felipe Massa and Kamui Kobayashi. Felipe Massa despite starting from 10th place, finished in a brilliant 2nd place, possibly one of his best races since Brazil 2008 and possibly that result might saved Felipe Massa another season at Ferrari.

Meanwhile, Kamui Kobayashi finished 3rd, on his home Grand Prix to become the third Japanese F1 driver ever to be on a F1 podium (after Aguri Suzuki at Suzuka 1990 for Lola-Lamborghini; Takuma Sato at Indianapolis 2004 for BAR Honda). There is also rumours that Kamui Kobayashi may not have a drive at Sauber next season with rumours of Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutiérrez will be driving for Sauber. Personally, if I was the Sauber team I would keep Kamui Kobayashi for another season, his proof it on his home Grand Prix yesterday.

While in the constructor's championship, Red Bull still leading the standings with Vettel's race win, while McLaren are still second in the constructors standings, from 36 points now 41 points behind Red Bull. Ferrari are now 61 points behind Red Bull in the standings in third place with five races to go.

And so this weekend is the Korean Grand Prix at Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Jeolla. Predictions for the race: Sebastian Vettel for the win in the Red Bull, ahead of team-mate Mark Webber in the other Red Bull. while Fernando Alonso will finished in third in the Ferrari. Don't forget the two McLaren drivers, Felipe Massa, the two Lotus drivers,the two Mercedes AMG or the two Sauber drivers as-well for a podium place too.

End of blog/post for how, new post soon. Bye.