Formula 1: Japanese GP Overview

Vettel seals the deal at Suzuka

The pendulum swung in favour of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in the Japanese Grand Prix, with the young German sealing his third GP win of the year. Championship leader Fernando Alonso was knocked out at the first corner after contact with fellow rival Kimi Raikkonen. 

With his win, Vettel edges ever closer to the increasingly vulnerable Fernando Alonso. With a spring in his step, Vettel's win in Japan never looked in doubt, his lead stretching evermore throughout the race. At the whell of a Red Bull car that looks increasingly impressive with each passing round, Vettel is now the firm favourite for this year's title.

Alonso has an unwanted encounter with the
gravel trap on Lap 1

As is usually the case in Suzuka, Sunday's Grand Prix kicked off with a dash of chaos on the first lap. Contact between Raikkonen and Alonso put the latter in the gravel and out of the race, significantly changing the landscape of this year's championships. There was also contact between Mark Webber and Romain Grosjean (the latter putting the former into a spin), the latest in a series of high-profile incidents for the young Frenchman. It put Mark at the back of the pack and ruined his race from the word go.

Sergio Perez span out after showing early promise, initially challenging for some solid points. McLaren were  strangely off-form in Japan, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton never really challenging for the podium after disappointing qualifying results. The latter will be buoyed by scoring solid points and Fernando's retirement but will be worried by the sheer pace Vettel demonstrated in the latter stages of the race; for Lewis, it might simply be a case of too little too late if he is able to claw back some points on the leaders.

Felipe Massa was a welcome addition to the podium finishers. The Brazilian grasped the opportunity of early retirements to finish second, his first podium since Korea 2010. It solidifies his position within Ferrari for next year, a future that was beginning to seem in doubt.

Likewise, Kamui Kobayashi added certainty to his future at Sauber by coming home second, much to the delight of the huge crowds. A spirited drive from the young Japanese driver saw him lose second to Felipe early on but fend off Button to seal his maiden podium finish.

Hamilton seemed to struggle against opponents like
Perez and Hulkenberg (above)

Other noteworthy drives included Kimi Raikkonen coming home a consistent sixth (he ran close to Hamilton at the second round of stops, the Englishman coming out on top), as well as Schumacher making his way through the field to from twenty-third to finish eleventh. Webber recovered from his first corner crash with Grosjean to finish ninth, beating fellow Aussie Ricciardo in tenth.

Hulkenberg looked to challenge Hamilton early on but ultimately came home a still impressive seventh. Maldonado won his first points since Barcelona by finishing eighth.

With two on trot for Vettel, 2012 seems to be his to lose. Although, we've said that about Alonso and Hamilton before now. The pendulum could very easily swing in another's favour in the five rounds left. It ain't over yet. Check back in a week for my race report on next weekend's Korean Grand Prix.