Posted on 19th November 2012
With F1 returning to the USA hopes were of an exciting race on a circuit that was said to incorporate some of the greatest corners from circuits around the world. The hope also was that the title race between Alonso and Vettel would liven up the Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel headed the time sheets throughout the weekend, and claimed pole from Hamilton who was the only driver to get near the German's time, fears were that Vettel would score another victory and claim his 3rd title in the penultimate race.
With Vettel and Hamilton on the front row, and Webber in third, Alonso found himself down in ninth but was promoted to 8th when Grosjean suffered a five place penalty for a gearbox change. This unfortunately meant that Alonso would be disadvantaged by being moved onto the dirty side of the track, which had caused the drivers difficulty when moving off line over the whole of the weekend. The solution by Ferrari was to break the seal on Massa's gear box incurring a 5 place penalty for him, thus moving Alonso back to the clean side of the track and up one place on the grid to 7th…..Simple!!.
Button had predicted carnage at the first corner, but in actual fact everyone made a clean start led by Vettel from Webber, Alonso again making a great start and moving up to 4th.
Vettel quickly extended his lead over Webber, with Hamilton shadowing the Red Bull of Webber until he was able to pass on lap 6. Alonso had an obviously slower car than Hamilton and Vettel but was comfortable in 4th, whilst Hulkenberg and Raikkonen were battling for 4th & 5th the Lotus driver making his move to secure 4th on lap 13.
The unfortunate Webber had been complaining about his KERS for a number of laps, and on lap 17 pulled off to retire with electrical problems, yet another disappointing end to a race by the Australian.
On lap 20 both Hamilton and Alonso made what their only tyre stop, switching from the medium Pirellis to the hard, with the Red Bull team pitting Vettel shortly afterwards. Button having not stopped closed on Alonso after his stop, and managed to get up into 4th place ahead of the Ferrari as a result.
Hamilton was now on a charge, the McLaren and Red Bull swapping faster laps with each other until Hamilton was within DRS range. Close but seemingly unable to pass the two cars circulated together for several laps lapping back markers which varied the gap between them several times, but probably helping Hamilton more than Vettel.
Finally on lap 42 Hamilton pounced and took the lead for the first time. Vettel claimed he was baulked by Karthikeyan but in reality it was a clean pass, and an inevitable one. Hamilton pulled out a lead, and controlled the race from the front therafter.
Hamilton crossed the line ahead of Vettel who claimed fastest lap on the last lap, Alonso a distant 3rd with Massa 4th, Button 5th followed by Räikkönen, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Maldonado and Senna.
This was surprisingly the first time that Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso had been on the podium together, the Ferrari driver losing more points to Vettel, but happy that the result was the best he could have hoped for.
The final race in Brazil predicts stormy weather, but one thing for sure is that it will provide a fitting end to an exciting F1 season, with the outcome of the Championship still not settled
