2012 - What a Year Formula 1

It was a season like no other. An unfolding story so full of twists

and turns, it could have been the product of Hollywood. A Scripps

that brought together flesh and metal, the greatest car chase ever.

It dealt in fantasy, in impossible happenings, unpredictable at every

stage. All favourites returned to show they had lost none of their

lustre. Some stars dimmed, reduced to mere extras, as we embraced new

heros with familiar names. We cleared for the underdog, a

celebration cut short. Like an action movie, it kept you on the

edge of your seat, bravery, excitement glamour. A life out of

reach. Subplots eed, story lines changed. A love story gone sour.

Heroes and villains switching in a moment. It had to be scripted. An

epic tale requires the perfect backdrop and this one was altered

with every episode. Some of the supporting stars greeted with a

warm fanfare. Others became the focus themselves as the tension

rose. Still, the old director stood firm. The greatest story ever told

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

has an ending just as captivating. # It's beginning to look a lot like

Christmas # Every where you go! # Take a look in the fine and ten #

Glirsening once again # With candy canes and silver lanes aglow #

Happy Christmas. I've got you some beautiful Irish coffees. Just to

warm the cockles of your heart. have wondered what you have got in

your head what is it? Don't ask. Now let's reflect on the season.

All the chats a year ago was about six world champions on the grid. We

had never seen that before. We will probably never see it again. If you

look at those circumstances champions, apart from Michael, they

all delivered. It made a -- ate stand out year. Ferrari is the team,

the classic team, they have so much resource and history, and they were

so bad in pre-season, do you remember? The first day we put the

remember? The first day we put the car on the track, it was a big

surprise, the expectation was different. There is no reason to

master. I remember very well we had the problem of speed. A lot of drag.

A lot of instability and not enough traction. So a lot of things.

there any unwelcome surprises? always have in a new car, it is

just the beginning of a big job to have a consistent and competitive

the car. We know this kind of competition is also a psychological

game. If you shout outside it doesn't help. There was a moment

where we had to regroup and try to solve it. Knowing you don't have

any magic touch. You can't sort things one night the morning after.

It was I would say the most difficult moment of the season.

Fernando Alonso in the gravel. He is out. He's nuerious. There is

something wrong with that car. was a bad start, 12th and 16th on

the grid in Australia. That is not acceptable for Ferrari. We had a

difficult qualifying and unfortunately qualifying remained

the most difficult days of the season. While Ferrari were

struggling, McLaren were as hot as this coffee. They had a great pre-

season and first race. We came out guns blazing and showed we had the

pace. We were very quick in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton has

taken pole position. That was an incredible performance from Lewis

Hamilton. Button goes second. looked at the front row, that is

always nice in the first race. I got a good start and still won.

Lights off, away we go. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button at the

first corner. Button is ahead. is impressive stuff. It felt good

in the car. The car was work well. Button wins in Australia.

fantastic, what a great way to start the year, guys. A good race

and we expected the rest of the season to be that easy. Look the

rain at the back. It is pouring down now. The last sector is work

away. Perez coming into the pits. Look at the rain falling now.

Inspired decision by Perez. In any year, there is always someone who

emerges as the coming man, Perez showed he has something special.

engineer was telling me I was pulling away from the others and I

was the fast e car on the track. You're very quick. I was the

fastest car on the track again and again. Is Fernando Alonso starting

to struggle? Could Perez get on the back of Ferrari. This is one to

watch. I was just thinking for the victory. I thipbt difor the second

place. But then we had some other circumstances. Be careful, we need

this position. Perez has a problem. He has ran wide. Fernando Alonso

has been give an huge break by that. Who knows? I'm sure I will have

give him a hard time. Ferrari are going to dig themselves out of all

the trouble they have had in testing. Remarkably Fernando Alonso

wins the Malaysian Grand Prix and takes the victory. It is one of the

most beautiful, this is one of the most beautiful. We are so proud of

you. So proud of you and of the team. Second place goes to the 21-

year-old Mexican, Sergio Perez. is wet eyes at Ferrari and Sauber.

You have got to love the Formula One 2012. After that difficult

start, at least you were putting in a victory in a season, which is

something you cannot take for granted. It was a tough time.

Ferrari when things go well, everything is exaggerated, when

things go bad, everything is dramatic. It is not affecting us,

but any win or good result in this first part of the Championship that

we're struggling, for sure make people happy, working tomorrow 8

o'clock. Nico Rosberg is going to have his first ever pole position

and the first pole position for Mercedes since 1955. The first two

race and two different winners and in China we get our thirbgsd Nico

Rosberg. That was unexpected. was the surprise of the season as

far as I'm concerned. It is Nico Rosberg whether wins the Chinese

Grand Prix. His first ever victory. The first win for Mercedes since

19556789 he's done it! -- since 1955. There was a double DRS and at

that point on that track on that day gave them this massive

advantage. How does it feel? Fantastic. Thank you to everyone at

home who is part of this effort today and it feels special. It has

been a long time coming. I didn't see you kiss the troughy there.

Wonderful well done. That was the high point for Mercedes in the

Security is stepped up at the Bahrain Grand Prix as protesters

call for that he days of rage. not the image that Formula One

organisers will have hoped for. don't believe the Grand Prix should

go ahead. I believe that this race is a course for good. Tear gas,

stun grenades, petrol bombs, it is not what F1 want to be associated

with is? It is nothing to do with F1. I'm here to race. That is all I

have to say. Wfr we went to Bahrain, Red Bull had one podium and the

newspapers said have they forgotten thousand design a fast car. We were

in a luxury position and it was never expected when we got to the

track that we come to the circuit and win. But we were always in a

strong position. In wai, I have probably now have to admit you get

not used to it, but somehow maybe in the back of your head you have

the expectation to fight for the win. To be able to do that. At the

start of year we were not in the position to fight for victory.

Sebastian Vettel has not only had a terrible qualifying, he has now had

a terrible start and he is in 15th place. He took it well. He knew it

was the long game and the question of picking up the points on the

days you couldn't win. In Malaysia we had an incident with Narain

Karthikeyan and lost points. China, he did a strong race, but we got

points from the race. Of course, we got to Bahrain, where we got our

first win of the season. This is wonderful racing and Sebastian

Vettel has not got it all his own way as he tries to take his first

win of the season. Kimi Raikkonen has closed that gap. It is world

champion against world champion. Kimi is going down the inside sm

but Vettel just moves there. Sebastian Vettel wins in Bahrain,

the first Red Bull win of tpwepbt 12. The first win of the season was

a big relief. It was a great race with the pressure, Kimi Raikkonen

was arguably quicker than us. But we still won. OK, excellent job.

Thanks everyone, I had one chance. We put ourself in a position to

fight for it. For most of the reason. So then it was

disappointing to lose by two seconds. He weighed up the

situation and he knew he didn't have the fastest Dar and he was

going for consistency. At that stage he did look cautious, but it

gave him second place. And there will be a few people who didn't

take a two-year break to do rallying may look at their own

performance and question well, actual li, he did an amazing job in

his come back. Here comes Lewis Hamilton looking for another pole

position. Can he take his first ever pole in Spain? He has done it.

A great lap from Lewis Hamilton. But what about Pastor Maldonado.

Second place on the grid for Williams. That is a huge story.

need to stop the car, we have a problem. Please turn off.

problem. I will explain later. a e listen they told me then, I

knew I wasn't going to do it. There was nothing I could do. It was us

from freighting. I had done such a good lap. When we saw Lewis had

stopped, we were 50% sure the place was for us. This is the grid.

Venezuala's mald mall starts op pole. -- Pastor Maldonado starts on

mole. -- pole. I was worried about the start. They had always been

starting well. And we have been starting very bad. Lights out, away

Maldonado is trying to stay with him... He can't! On the first

corner, I knew that our car was the strongest. I gained a place on the

second pit stop. Maldonado is going to take the lead. That a great

effort by Williams. After that, he tried to put on a lot of pressure.

I started to push a little bit. I made a gap and I did it. You have

got to realise that I was now winning the race. Pastor Maldonado

wins in Spain! The first William's victory since Brazil in 2004.

when Fernando and Kimi Raikonnen, they take me on their shoulders,

that was so good. You know, always I didn't think Williams still had

their Mojo. I didn't think they could become winners again.

Maldonado, he wasn't a big start coming into this. He was a paid

driver. For paid drivers to win in Formula One, hats off to them. I

I was in the car at the moment, so it was so scary for everyone. Just

in one second, we saw everything get on fire. We saw some of our

guys burned. It was a difficult time for the team, you know? After

such a big victory, such a big moment. From that amazing high or

victory, we heard the shock afterwards when they had this fire

in the pit box. I think that showed the best of Formula One, actually.

All of the teams came together with fire extinguishers and it really

showed that in difficult moments like that, Formula One is a small

community. Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher had a moment of madness,

I guess you would call it? Do we think that Bruno was moving in the

braking area? I don't think so. It looks like he was caught out. It

appears like I am just bitter and twisted that he used to beat me all

of the time, but what did Bruno Senna do wrong there? They very

frustrating. I am very much annoyed about that. The fact that he could

not be magnanimous or actually understand that he was the car

behind, it was a major mistake. was embarrassed, this is Michael

Schumacher! But he blamed Senna! asked Michael in his first career,

has he ever done anything wrong and he said, I don't remember. Michael

Schumacher doesn't believe he makes mistakes. That is why, at that

moment, it was all about Bruno Senna. It was not about something

he'd done. That also brought a penalty for the next Grand Prix in

Here comes Michael Schumacher! The master of Monaco! Can he do it?

He's done it! He's on pole! It would be his 69th career pole, but

it won't be, he's got a penalty. One of my best front rows ever.

It's not often that Sebastian cannot respond to what I am doing

and he was struggling to match me. Webber comes out of the final

corner, what a performance for Red Bull. A hat-trick of victories in

Monaco. RADIO: Well done, you have won at the Monaco Grand Prix again,

well done! That was a great victory. He was able to control the race,

good decisions in terms of strategy Sebastian Vettel surges into the

lead! Hamilton has certainly closed the gap. This is it, boys, do your

best! And there is a problem. getting everything he can out of

the tyres. Hamilton is really setting the time now. It's not

impossible, they might try to come to the end, week the to keep

pushing. Resistance is futile. A Hamilton has grab second place.

Just the Ferrari ahead now. So much more cars begin the McLaren.

Nothing that Alonso can do. -- carte speed. Louis Hamilton becomes

I do remember it being nice to be at the top. It lasted for a very

short period of time. That is probably the most disappointing

part. It was a fantastic team victory, based on the correct

strategy, despite another slow pit- stop. That is something that docked

Do you get the impression that, even at the start of the season, he

is wondering if it is the right team to be at? I don't know what is

going on in his mind. They must have been things said. At the start

of the season, look, we have the best car. We should be champions.

But there were bigger problems with the team. We know what went on whip

the tyre choice, running over his own tyre, too many things where the

team made mistakes. Hamilton comes in. A very slow start. He's caught

the rear wheel. They haven't been able to get it out of the way in

time. He's lost a massive amount of time in the pits again. It was

frustrating. From those positions, it should have been easier with the

car that we had to have won. In my opinion, they went in for stops too

quickly. As a result, too many problems occurred. We had problems

with pit stops, a lot of it is that we were trying to bring in new

things. We were trying to bring in a new Jacques, a new type of gun

and a new type of wheel nut. There were so many things we were trying.

Was it worth it? It would have been nice to do it over the winter.

After six or seven races of the air, it felt like this was the point

where Jenson Button's attempt to be world champion fell away. We don't

have... Yeah, the pace. Button is back in the pits. Does that mean it

is over? Has he thrown in the towel? Jenson Button, tenth.

don't have three bad qualifying sessions and understand what is

going wrong. Hamilton, he is going to be lapping Button in a moment.

Where are they gaining on you? Well... Everywhere. Not much to

say about that, really. As you have probably seen, Lewis has won the

race. I was off the pace of the RADIO: I don't know why we are

getting so much locking, it is all over the place, it's unbelievable.

I just couldn't hold the car down. The conversation I would have with

him would be quite colourful. I would like to know what on earth

has gone wrong. Four points in four or five races. You win the first

race, your team-mate has just won the first race. A really tough part

of the season. When the pit lane has tyre warm-up issues, I have

even bigger issues. It is something I have struggled with since 2009.

Which point of the season did you think that your championship

chances were over? Pretty early on, when I was asked the questions. But

you're never going to turn around and say, yeah, it's over for me.

You have to be careful what you say and keep these guys positive. They

are working flat out. If you say you're not admit any more, it's not

a positive attitude. It's not the right way to be. It was always

going to be difficult, even after Sebastian Vettel, two seconds a lap

faster than Lewis Hamilton. Where have they found this incredible

pace from? He was in a league of his own, he got the pole and then

at one stage he was two seconds faster than the opposition.

Arguably, it was our most competitive race. Simply had the

pace, for the first time, to disappear. And then we have the

problem with the alternator. Vettel in trouble! Alonso Leeds!

Major drama at the European Grand Prix. Vettel has slowed to a stop.

Adrian Newey cannot believe it! makes you angry. It is nothing that

you have done wrong. Disappointed and angry that we didn't finish the

race. Hamilton could be under pressure from Maldonado. I could

feel the tyres going and I said, these are not going to last. Three

seconds quicker than him, he was in big trouble with the tyres.

close, they are almost touching wheels! It hindsight, I could have

easily just went past. Hamilton will fight him with everything he

has got. In the heat of the moment, you're thinking, I have worked so

hard for this position, the team need the points, I need the points,

and not going to give it up without a fight. He brakes a little early,

Maldonado tries to go round the outside, they almost touch but...

Hamilton is in the wall! Lewis tried to defend and put me out of

the track. So I wasn't going to give anything to him. He's out of

the European Grand Prix! He hits the steering wheel, he cannot

believe what has happened! Sometimes you have to remember

which driver you are raising with. Next time, in the same position, I

would do the same. Astonishing drive from Fernando Alonso.

Fernando Alonso is the first repeat winner of 2012, the first time he

has won in Valencia. It very difficult feeling to describe,

This moment, I will try to remember for many years. By know that it

will be on my mind for many years. I tried to enjoy every single

moment. I tried to feel the emotions from the fans, the team

and everybody. I believe the best race for Fernando, yes. He won that

race and really showed that Ferrari has developed that car. For me,

that turned his season around. Then Then, of course, we came home to

Silverstone where it rained all weekend, meaning it was only one

way to rise for the British Grand Give them a wave, boys! He won't

let go! I love the British Grand We had our weekend high and then it

was Mark Webber's turn to have a high point. What did you think

about the race? There is something about Silverstone that brings out

the best in him. Good start from Alonso. He just gets in front of

Webber. The race was probably boring for people to watch, but it

was a good battle in every lap. With Fernando, you're not going to

get any free time off from him because he is always consistent.

Webber is going to try and going to the outside. Mark Webber, side by

side with the Ferrari... He's done it! I had to make sure I got that

moved done. I was confident we would get the job done and we did.

A brave pass around the outside. Mark Webber is going to win the

British Grand Prix. He needed that, it brought him back into the hunt

for the championship. While Mark Webber was picking up the win,

Fernando Alonso was finishing second. He won in Germany, he came

through in Hungary. He was always in the hunt for the points.

Fernando Alonso takes his third win of 2012. Lewis Hamilton comes

through to win the Hungarian Grand Prix. Championship leader, Fernando

This consistency, picking up point after point, it left him ahead in

the battle. Was he driving like a man under pressure? There was their

overtaking of Jenson Button, four wheels clearly off the circuit.

Sebastian Vettel is trying to out- brake the McLaren. Racing for

A lot of what happens is reactive. He tried to go around the outside

and Jenson Button gave him as much space as he needed. The message was

clear to Sebastian Vettel - if you want to be the third ever hat trick

world champion, you're not going to have it all your own way. You have

to fight for it. I think we were pleasantly surprised from the start

of the season how many real contenders there were. We know we

had seven different winners in seven race. This time, it had

changed. He had to get a grip of this thing and get this

Championship by the scruff of the neck if he was going to feature in

the outcome. We are getting ready for the Belgian Grand Prix. Lights

out. Away we go. Pastor Maldonado shooting through. Was that a jump

start? Lewis Hamilton's hit the Lotus. Alonso is out, Hamilton is

out. Real drama at the start of the race and this has a massive impact

in terms of the Championship. was the turning point in Spa. We

struggled in qualifying. But his race was remarkable and his

progress through the field, you know, it was truly impressive.

Getting up the inside of Massa. Sebastian Vettel goes around the

outside of Senna. Sebastian Vettel has gone through. He is trying to

get past Michael Schumacher. Jenson Button takes is victory at Spa.

When Fernando looks back, there will be a couple of moments, where

he thinks, that was a big moment for me. One was right at the start

of the Grand Prix in Spa. For the wrong reasons. He almost lost his

head. It was horrific. Anything could have happened. At worse we

could have had fatality. This wasn't the first time we had seen

Romain Grosjean causing programme. Some are good drivers and some are

fast drivers. It was clear he was quick, but he wasn't good at close

quarter racing. Pastor Maldonado trying to get past Romain Grosjean.

Romain Grosjean moves in front of Michael. There is nowhere for him

to go. Romain Grosjean touching the back of Paul di Resta. Lewis

Hamilton left that weekend having been knocked out in the first lap.

The talking point for Lewis Hamilton was this tweeting of the

telemetry; he was frustrated. He and Jenson Button had gone a

different way and he decided to share confidential McLaren

information with a million Twitter followers. When Lewis looks back on

this season that, should be his lowest point. I don't care how good

he is, he needed to be reprimanded. I don't hi he was and I do feel

that was the start, if anyone wanted to look back and say, where

did the thing of Hamilton leaving McLaren start from? That is the

start. Fernando Alonso trying to go around the outside of Sebastian

Vettel. Lens lon is on the grass. OK that is enough. We saw that it

is clear what happened. That has a big impact in terms of World

Championship. Stop the car, we need to save the engine. Stop the car.

Hasm on the has the controlled this race from the -- - Lewis Hamilton

has controlled this race from the front. He wins the Italian Grier.

Well done guys, great job. think back to what he had achieved

if he had been in a content and happy place with McLaren.

season was not about whether Lewis was in a happy place, it was finger

troubles. Jenson Button was parking the car with the reliability issue.

It was the beak week you anoupbtsed to the -- it was the week you

announced to the world that Lewis was Leighing. Do you think his mind

was made up about leaving the team? I think the decision had been made.

That is why we announced that I felt sure that Lewis was leering.

We didn't announce anything. You announced. You started it! Ham --

Hamilton has been in a class of his own all weekend. Hamilton's in

trouble. He has lost drive. Another failure to finish for Lewis

Hamilton. His World Championship hopes are disapeering. We have had

a great car to compete with a World Championship, the fact that we're

not is very tough for all of us to deal with. Because we could easily

without reliability issues be competing for a win. And the

Championship. Both constructors and drivers. What Dow yoi you say, what

does he say to them. With the loss of Lewis Hamilton, it has been

straight forward for Sebastian Vettel. Yes, we did it! I think he

made his mind up. Things turned away from him and he said, I'm out

of here. It was clear I wanted to try something new. I called Martin.

Which was the hardest... Most difficult call that I have ever had

to make. Lewis Hamilton has left the British racing team McLaren and

signed for their rivals Mercedes, ending the former world

champion's... It leaves a question mark over the future of Michael

Schumacher. At some point, it is good to say goodbye. And it might

be forever. We hadn't consider what had else that would create. But we

had Michael Schumacher having to leave Mercedes and Perez getting

the seat at McLaren. There was a rush, which there always is, it is

a domino effect, one person makes the move and it filters down to the

bottom. That is what happened. Perez the young Mexican driver has

starred here today. Yes! Fantastic. Great! You have the first contact

pr McLaren, but I didn't pay much attention. I never thought Lewis

was going to leave the team. I didn't want to make too much

expectation on that. We were surprised to see Perez, I thought

Paul di Resta had a decent shot at that seat. My path may cross in a

year or ten years time. It is what it is. You have got to deal with

what you're dealt with in life. Will keep pushing and do my job and

hopefully that will do the talking for me. In Spa and in Japan we

didn't do any even a corner. Somebody's off already. This a

Fernando Alonso? Contact with Lotus. Snie Zero point in two races, that

was a massive heat on the Championship. Oh Roman. What are

you doing! Maybe we have two separate starts, one for him and

one for us. He just rear-ended Mark Webber. I didn't see the speed with

Mark Webber in front and touched him. So I'm... At which point did

you think your chabss -- chances had come to an end. Suzuka was

tough. There was a good chance for a result there. That was a lot of

points that was missed. Fernando didn't finish and Seb won. This is

an amazing car. He was on fire that weekend. He got the pole and he was

dominant. Our biggest problem in the race was slowing him down.

Sebastian Vettel with a hat trick of victories. Yeah! Compared to the

car at the beginning of the season, I could play more and manipulate

the car to the way I like. Sebastian Vettel will win all four

races in aishya. -- Asia. Four wins, four races, 100 points that is

amazing. It was, Red Bull had hit form. The developments had released

performance in the car. It was like 20 lever again. And that run of

four victories brought him back in again. -- 2011 again. Abu Dhabi has

been a good place for us in the past, on that day it wasn't.

Sebastian Vettel comes out of last corner. He is third. It was a good

session for us. Fernando Alonso is not going fastest. It was six cars

faster than us today. Stop the car, stop the car. That night we were

waiting to see what was going on. It was long to understand there was

no fuel in the car. You understand what I mean? Sebastian Vettel's

been demoted to the back of the grid. Sebastian Vettel starting

from the pit lane. It was a big hit. The Championship is closing in and

there is less and less races to... You know maybe make up for things

like that happening. It was tough, but we took a decision to say we're

starting from back. Let's withdraw the car from the grid and make a

few changes. If we are going to overtake, we are going to need to

take some wing off the car. At the end of the day, the it was a strong

point for us to see the opportunity. We had rather than thinking what

would be if... Get on with it and focus on the race. A track lay out

which hasn't seen much overtaking. Before the race he said I will see

you on the podium. I thought, well that's confident. Lights out away

with do go. This is about scrapping for a few points. Fernando Alonso

will take the place. What a move. Sebastian Vettel on the attack.

There is damage on your right hand side. A difficult afternoon looking

like it is going to get even worse. Rosberg is out. Rosberg has crashed

out of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The safety car has been deployed.

What is he doing? He is stopping all the time. That has damaged his

front wing. He is at the back of the grid for the restart and starts

to come through field. Can he challenge on the restart? Sebastian

Vettel gets it. Lewis Hamilton's in trouble. What is going on? Kimi

Raikkonen leads the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso into second

place. He has gone past Pastor Maldonado. Oh that is Webber as

well. It's all gone wrong. We have the safety car. This closes it up

together and Sebastian Vettel will be with the race leaders in a fast

Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel tries to find a way past Jenson Button. This

is for a podium position remember. And there is Sebastian Vettel. He

may have done it this time. Beautifully done. Fernando Alonso

is charging here. He is looking for victory. Tell me when he gets to

the end, I'm covering my eyes with the excitement. Fernando Alonso is

running out of time. He has done it. Kimi Raikkonen wins, Fernando

Alonso is second. Sebastian Vettel a brilliant third place. To retain

the Championship lead. That was such a tenacious drive. We had

limited the damage, he only scored three more points. That was a

crucial moment. We could have easily left Abu Dhabi with having

lost the lead in the Championship. Thank you boys. I told you. Never

stop believing. Fernando Alonso was delighted to be on the podium, but

seeing his main rival took the wind out of his sails. It was not easy

from an emotional point of view to handle, because you felt that we

didn't take the opportunity that he was given. Because of external

things that we were not able to control. Sebastian Vettel was lucky.

He had luck with the safety car and positions that he was able to make

up. Pit stops, the whole lot. It resulted in him being on the podium.

Ferrari would have been distraubgt. That was the sign if they had, the

first sign that hey, this Championship could be going away.

How surprised were you in his come back year, Kimi Raikkonen pick up a

win unlike Michael Schumacher? had good speed and it shows what we

have been saying, if we can put ours in the clear air and use our

lap time speed, we can challenge for wins. A lot of emotions. A lot

of great feedback from everyone and maybe the most important is the

main competitors in the paddock said congratulationings, that shows

how we have respect and our people was happy for us to win. Four years,

so this was something that was missing. He is a winning driver and

gave us all the radio moments of the season when they were trying to

give him advice from the pit. Het he is like, yes, yes, I know what

I'm doing. We need to keep working all four tyres. Yes, yes, I'm doing

all the tyre, you don't have to I think this is going to be big for

the United States. You would never have thought of 100 years that

Austin, Texas would have a track like this. Much more awesome than

IndyCar. It is gone wrong for Ferrari for only the second time

this year, Alonso has been out- qualified by his team-mate, Felipe

Massa. Alonso starting 7th, Massa has had a gearbox penalty. Tactics

from Ferrari, he starts in 11th. had Massa having a gearbox penalty,

which allowed Fernando to move at a position. It was frustrating, to

give away five places like this. It's a team sport. We had this

opportunity from a regulation point of view and we took it. The race

was all about Lewis Hamilton. Vettel has it under control right

now. Lewis Hamilton on the attack, Vettel knows it. Hamilton sweeps

past 10! Lewis Hamilton, the first ever winner on this circuit at the

American. That was amazing, guys! That was wicked! This was one of

his stronger seasons. He didn't win a championship or as many Grand

Prix as he should have. But he showed his class. Fernando Alonso

takes third place to keep his title challenge alive. Were have won a

third consecutive Constructors' Championship, which we are

immensely proud of. If we were cruel, we would say that McLaren

blew the championship. They had everything in their favour, from

drivers to car, to designers, I'll miss being in the garage, I'll

miss going to the factory. I'll miss the people that I get to work

with. I'll miss the rocket red shirts, when we succeed and

celebrate together. I'll miss being in the garage. It's going to be

A remarkable season came down to the very last race. One of the

greats, and there is no question that they are great, great drivers.

One of them is going to win the title. Which one? Under normal

conditions, Sebastian Vettel would have taken the place. He is very

good. The car is very strong. But we know that when you are under

pressure, you start to stumble. points is the gap. Even if Vettel

falls off the road, he has to finish top three for Alonso to win

the championship. Everything that could happen, happened. Anything

that could go wrong went wrong, in a way. Lights out, away we go!

Hamilton against Button in the front row. The Vettel did not get

away very well at all! Sebastian, because of the pension,

that is natural. It is not strange, they are very young guys, don't

forget. -- because of the tension. Vettel has been hit! How much

damage on the Red Bull? What drama on the first lap in Brazil! At that

point you think it is it, it's over. It was obvious that Fernando,

because he is always on the podium, he was going to finish on the

podium. That is what he needed to win the championship. Usually, in

that moment, you think it is over, you are out of the race. In that

particular moment, probably, it is over and I am out of the

championship. In that case, I just Our priority was to be on the

podium. Whatever happened to Sebastian Vettel, if we are not on

the podium we have no chance. Alonso moves into third place,

where he needs to be if Vettel gets no points! I didn't know how much

damage there was. I have to go into the main straight to give Adrian

and his people a chance to have a look. RADIO: There is visible

damage, but see how the car behaves. We cannot fix damage. There was a

problem with the dynamics in that part of the car but he started

coming back. Vettel has just done a lap faster than everybody else.

This is not finished yet. Alonso has gone wide! A Vettel is trying

to pick them off, one by one. Do he was determined that he was not

going to let the championship slip away. I just kept going,

surprisingly quickly I was behind Ben Ando. Hulkenberg, Hamilton, for

the lead! They have made contact! Hamilton and Hulkenberg. Alonso in

second place. Hamilton's final race at McLaren Inns with a damaged car.

RADIO: The radio does not work, the radio does not work. It was too dry

for intermediate tyres. We had to fit the right tyres at the right

moment. A crucial call, to stick him on slick tyres. A brave

decision. Within 30 seconds it started to rain. His radio had

stopped working, he could hear us but we couldn't hear him. Of Vettel

has made the call, that you hadn't heard him, he arrived in the pit

lane and they were like, well, what does he want? It must be

intermediates. If they finish where they are now, Alonso would be world

champion. At that moment, you think it is gone and it is all over. But

he started coming through. A brave cut back into the inside. He got

himself back into that vital seventh position. He became 6th,

surprisingly, Michael Schumacher waved him through. Michael

Schumacher, his gift in his last race is that he doesn't put up any

resistance to his young German friend. We were really hoping that

we would have seen a better fight. But I think that Michael finishes

his career and wants to be seen as the one that was keeping the world

Ten laps to go, we had the call that where we are is enough. I

still tried to push because maybe there is some odd situation and

somebody spins? They are behind safety car. There will be no

further changes. Jenson Button takes a victory! Second place goes

to Alonso. But with sixth place, Sebastian Vettel is the 2012

Formula One world champion! You are the world champion! You are the

triple world champion! Sebastian Vettel, you are the man. You are a

Everything just falls off, you know? In a way, you don't even have

the power to make you realise what happened, the power to celebrate

the way that you probably thought were dreamt of celebrating. -- or

If you put yourself in his shoes, I think that he knows, and he knew at

that stage, that he would have the treble championship. The car was a

little bit slower than the others, but we can win the championship.

With a car that is the same as the others, we will probably win a few

races before the end. With a car that is a lot slower than the

others, we fight until the last I think we have probably seen the

best of Fernando Alonso. That is his strongest ever season of

Formula One. He didn't win the championship, he's won it a couple

of times before. But he was the most complete driver. The way he

motivated the team, the way he raced, he took big risks. Then on

finishers came because other people ran into him. Sebastian Vettel, the

third rider in history to have The incomparable, calm and

courageous, daring and yet relaxed... To prove his claim to

immortality as one of the greatest drivers the world has ever known.

grow up here and I thought nobody would ever do that. Michael

Schumacher has done it today. This Sebastian Vettel, you are the world

champion! Well done, enjoy it. You Look in a certain book, check the

number, look, I have done this, we have done this. That is not what it

really is about, it is looking back, thinking of the race in Brazil.

Looking back, standing on the wall in Japan. Looking back, crying and

feeling completely empty in Abu Dhabi. This is what nobody can take

away from you. I think this will last probably until the last day.

Until the last day I am on that planet. And we will say goodbye at

one stage. A great driver, in a great moment, is able to deliver

that package. For me, he will, in time, become one of the greats of

our sports. Wonderful to share the season with the wall. We are four

days past Christmas Day and I am still waiting for my Christmas

present. IUD the same? We don't like you any more, you went to

leave us on our own and he left us in the lurch. You are like walking

down the aisle of a wedding and disappear around us. You are a big

boy. I think it 2013 you can look after yourself. Me and you again?

Just you and I. Is anybody going to Lights out, away they go. For the

last time in 2012. Yes, yes, yes... Hamilton is in the wall! He's done

it! Sebastian Vettel, a you are a # Has so long, farewell, but not

goodbye. # I know we'll meet again.

# I've seen your eyes, sparkling with dreams of rocket men.

# And we still trace the live to, that takes you to a place you know

# And I don't know that I can make # Or I know is that the sun keeps

on shining when you are gone. The rig when we were young, you

# They say it's too late to write your name in lights across the

skies. # You've had your time, but you'd

risk it all for one last chance to fly.

# Because you still chase that light that takes you to a place you

always know. # Takes you home...