Sebastian Vettel has entered the Formula One record books once again, this time by matching Nigel Mansell’s 1992 record of 14 pole positions in a single season. Moreover, he can enjoy being alone at the top if he secures a pole position at the Brazilian GP with which the 2011 season comes to an end.It was that he actually retired! Yes, you read correctly: despite holding the pole position, F1's "golden-boy" retired in the first lap. Admittedly, neither the German nor any other driver was to blame. Instead, his rear right tire inexplicably was torn to pieces in the second corner after the start of the race – something that Pirelli is already looking into.
It was a very unusual incident: “To be honest, at the exit of the first corner everything seemed fine”, said Vettel. “As soon as I started turning for the second corner, I could feel that something was odd on the rear right. I had a puncture and spun off.”
Vettel managed to keep his RB7 from hitting the tire wall and slowly got into the pits, where his mechanics tried to fix the car. It was in vain as the right rear suspension was beyond repair and as a result, Vettel, after hitting the steering wheel in anger, had to climb out of the cockpit and watch the rest of the race from the TV monitors.
This gave McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton the opportunity to score his third victory of the year. His teammate, Jenson Button, diced with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso for second, but a problem with his car’s KERS system meant he had to be content with third place.
The 2011 F1 season’s final race will take place on November 27 at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil.
Behind the top three, Mark Webber brought the remaining Red Bull home in fourth place and recorded the fastest lap of the race. Felipe Massa, despite a spin, was fifth in the second Ferrari ahead of the two Mercedes’ of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.
source : carscoop.blogspot.com
