Vettel, starting from pole position, pulled away off the line with Hamilton right behind as Jenson Button took third place off Alonso, who had his main title rival Webber right behind him. However, the racing was soon called off as the Safety Car came out a the result of a huge accident involving Michael Schumacher and Tonio Liuzzi. And while six drivers, including Nico Rosberg and Vitaly Petrov, pitted under the Safety Car, most did not, including the title four.Lap 12 saw the first of the top four pitting with Webber coming in, dropping all the way down to 16th place. Four laps later, Alonso came in as Ferrari matched Red Bull's strategy and although the Spaniard got out ahead of Webber, he had to make his way through the traffic as he attempted to work his way into the points.
However, that charge came to a halt when he came across Petrov and lap after lap, unable to overtake the Renault driver, Alonso and Webber could do nothing but watch as their title hopes disipated.
Meanwhile, at at the front, Vettel and Hamilton both took their stops on lap 25 and 24 respectively, both remaining in the top five as they watched their title hopes boosted as lap after lap Alonso and Webber were trapped behind Petrov.
And as others pitted, they soon returned to the P1 and P2 slots with Vettel ahead of Hamilton. And although those pitters elevated Alonso and Webber up the order, the time spent behind Petrov meant Robert Kubica was able to get back out after his stop ahead of Alonso - and those two Renaults were the two places Alonso needed to win the World title.
The race ended with Vettel crossing the line in first place ahead of Hamilton, clinching the season finale, the Drivers' Championship title and setting a new record as F1's youngest-ever World Champ. Congratulations!
Results
01. Vettel Red Bull-Renault
02. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 10.1s
03. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 11.0s
04. Rosberg Mercedes + 30.7s
05. Kubica Renault + 39.0s
06. Petrov Renault + 43.5s
07. Alonso Ferrari + 43.7s
08. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 44.2s
09. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 50.2s
10. Massa Ferrari + 50.8s
11. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari + 51.5s
12. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 57.6s
13. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 58.3s
14. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 59.5s
15. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1m03.1s
16. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth + 1m04.7s
17. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth + 2 laps
19. Senna HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
20. Klien HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
21. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth + 4 laps
Did Not Finish
Glock Virgin-Cosworth 44
Schumacher Mercedes 1
Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1
Source: Planet-F1
