Oct 16, 2011
Red Bull Racing took the world constructors' title in style in Korea today with both our drivers on the podium.
Drivers' World Champion Sebastian Vettel proved that there is never a time to let up, he won with time to spare and, behind him, a battle royal raged between Webber and Hamilton – that infamous Aussie grit was in full effect as he fought to pass the McLaren driver.
It wasn't to be, but his and Sebastian's season-long focus and success were rewarded with our second Constructors' World title in as many years.
While the date may not be everyone's favourite on the calendar, Korea provided a great spectacle. Vettel started in P2 but by the end of the first lap had taken Hamilton's place at the top of the timing screens and - pretty much - that was his race done and dusted; he even secured fastest lap into the bargain. Not, however, that it was an easy ride.
He said: “I knew overtaking Lewis near the start would be difficult and I nearly went off under braking, but he was very fair and it was important for us to get track position. Then I wasn’t too comfortable, there was a lot of head wind and it was difficult to get away. I could see the car behind getting bigger in the mirrors and it was tough to break the tow, but we did it. We had a chance to win today and we took it.”
Webber, starting fourth, was able to re-overtake the initially impressive Ferraris, but much of his afternoon was spent staring very closely at the back of a McLaren rear wing. Despite the best efforts of driver and team, it wasn't to be and Hamilton took second place.
After the race, Mark said: “The battle with Lewis was pretty intense. I was frustrated that we followed him out of the pit lane, so I risked quite a bit to try and pass him on the out lap, before he got settled in. It’s not easy to pass a driver of Lewis’ calibre. I tried some moves and it was a good battle as our cars had weaknesses and strengths in different areas of the lap, so trying to get the move done wasn't particularly easy. I enjoyed it, but I would have liked to have got that extra position, which I think performance-wise we deserved.”
It certainly exorcised the ghosts of our dismal, double DNF at the Korean International Circuit last year.
The rest of the field weren't giving up either with the Ferraris racing each other as much as anyone else, Button chasing Webber's tail and Rosberg finishing in the top ten. Slightly better than his team-mate after Michael's coming together with Petrov.
Hats off to our friends at Scuderia Toro Rosso with both drivers in the points as Jaime Alguersuari came 7th and Sébastien Buemi just two places behind him keep their own pressure on Sauber and Force India just ahead in the Constructors'.
We turn our attention now to the new track in India. But while the season's two big trophies have been retained, there's still six more to get our hands on in 2011.
As they say in the garage, never lift...
Credit: Red Bull Racing Formula one Team (www.redbullracing.com)
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