Round Sixteen - Suzuka, Japan (Oct 5, 2010)
Driver: Jenson Button
Team: McLaren
Team Expectations: Podium, and just don't get in Lewis's way!
Introduction
Despite a podium in Singapore, Lewis still pulled another 10 pts further ahead of me in the title race last time around, so my goal this weekend was to beat him. Suzuka has always been a favourite circuit of mine, but the food in the hospitality tent doesn't always agree with me... I can recall spending many an hour in the Honda VIP portaloos here, I can tell you
The worst time was when I was stuck on the ferris wheel and suddenly got the runs... I can't apologise profusely enough to the poor cleaner that had to sort that lot out
Aaaanyway, I was in great shape (as usual!) on arrival in Japan, but I would have been in even better shape if I had got more sleep on the night before qualifying... I had that dream again where I was being followed by a giant egg yolk, and then I couldn't get back to sleep for ages. I hate eggs!
It's behind me, isn't it...?!?
Qualifying
A very good qualifying session saw me comfortably into Q3, and then I aced my first flying lap with a 1.33:739, to take pole position by over a second from the Red Bulls, denying Vettel yet another pole (that guy has had more poles than Robert Kubica's girlfriend this season!). Lewis could only manage P4, and the Ferraris were further down the pack, so things were looking good to close things up in the WDC.
Race - 11 Laps - Grid Position: Pole; Strategy: One Stop (end Lap 4); Weather: Overcast
(Difficulty: Professional, Penalties - Min; Damage: Full, Aids - TCS/ABS)
A good start from pole saw me comfortably take the lead into Lap 2. But then I had an untidy first sector and ran wide at the 'S' curves, letting Webber past very cheaply... I caught up to him again and we were neck and neck over the line into Lap 3 (see Vid 1), but Webber held the position. However, I would pass him at the hairpin to retake the lead! End of Lap 4, I pit from the lead, and disaster strikes... my lollipop man was finishing his book (
The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking
) and I'm in the pits for
17 seconds. I rejoin the race in 19th
I resolve to make the most of a bad situation, and immediately pass Schumacher for P18. By Lap 8, the pit stops have evened out, and I'm back in my 'real' position, a pitiful P8, with a queue of traffic awaiting me. I pass Massa and Rosberg, and on Lap 9 I make three passes (Glock at First Curve, Vettel at Degner and Trulli at the hairpin - see Vid 2), to move up into 3rd with two laps remaining. Hamilton and Webber are about 10 seconds up the road, as I hold on for a well-deserved but disappointing podium spot...
Left: Neck and neck down the pit straight with Webber; Right: From 5th to 3rd in quick succession
Summary: Could have been better, but for the delay in the pit lane
Mood:
Epilogue: So despite my best efforts at one of my favourite circuits, Lewis extends his lead and just holds on to top spot in the Championship, but all in all it was a good weekend for the team.
Jenson Button
Result:
1. Mark Webber (Red Bull) - 25
2. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) - 18
3.
Jenson Button (McLaren) - 15
4. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) - 12
5. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) - 10
6. Timo Glock (Virgin) - 8
7. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) - 6
8. Jarno Trulli (Lotus) - 4
9. Kamui Kobayashi (BMW Sauber) - 2
10. Adrian Sutil (Force India) - 1
13. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) - 0 (
Exclusive!!! The McLaren pit crew reaction )
Standings (After Round Sixteen):
1. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) - 225
2. Mark Webber (Red Bull) - 224
3.
Jenson Button (McLaren) - 195
4. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) - 184
5. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) - 183
6. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) - 132
7. Felipe Massa (Team Alonso) - 131
8. Robert Kubica (Renault) - 112
9. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) - 52
10. Adrian Sutil (Force India) - 48
11. Rubens Barrichello (Williams) - 31
12. Kamui Kobayashi (BMW Sauber) - 23
13. Vitaly Petrov (Renault) - 19
14. Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) - 16
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India) - 13
16. Timo Glock (Virgin) - 8
17. Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso) - 7
18. Pedro de la Rosa (BMW Sauber) - 6
19. Jarno Trulli (Lotus) - 4
20. Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) - 3
*
TM's results - 33 pts (2 races): 18 pts (Alonso @ Singapore); 15 pts (Button @ Suzuka)
Constructors:
1. McLaren - 420
2. Red Bull - 407
3. Ferrari - 315
4. Mercedes - 184
5. Renault - 131
6. Force India - 61
7. Williams - 47
8. BMW Sauber - 29
9. Toro Rosso - 10
10. Virgin - 8
11. Lotus - 4
12. HRT - 0
Season Summary
Despite a win for Webber, Lewis Hamilton holds on to the lead of the Driver's Championship but just one point. Ferrari look out of it now, as Alonso failed to score. Red Bull close the gap slightly on McLaren, but it remains too close to call with three races left. Both Virgin and Lotus score for the first time in the season at Japan, so HRT are now the only team to remain pointless.