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Vettel back on summit with Bahrain victory
Source: Agencies |
April 23, 2012, Monday
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FORMULA One champion Sebastian Vettel returned to the top of the standings yesterday with Red Bull's first victory of the season in a lively Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir International Circuit outside Manama that went ahead without incident despite protests against it.
The 24-year-old German's 22nd career triumph, and first in the troubled Gulf kingdom, made him the fourth different winner in four races.
He was pushed hard in the closing laps by Finland's 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who finished second ahead of Lotus teammate Romain Grosjean in the Frenchman's first appearance on the F1 podium.
Australian Mark Webber was fourth in the other Red Bull for the fourth successive race.
"It was a difficult race, extremely tough," said Vettel, who closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he stood on the podium.
"I was lucky to have a good start, and that was crucial, as it let me pull away and open up a gap at the front. But Kimi challenged me - I think he must have found a dealer who had all those new tires."
Former Ferrari driver Raikkonen said: "I had one chance to pass him, but I couldn't quite do it and that was it. But it was a good race for us."
With the main grandstand half empty, and few spectators to be seen elsewhere at a circuit with a maximum capacity of 45,000, the race was a far from normal affair after days dominated by talk of petrol bombs and teargas.
Vettel, who had started from pole position for the first time this season after a record 15 starts from the top slot last year, made his trademark single-finger salute for the first time since last year after taking the checkered flag.
With fuel running low, he was then told to pull over and stop immediately at the pit exit - which meant he had to run down the pit lane to embrace his mechanics.
Vettel now has 53 points, ousting McLaren's Lewis Hamilton from the top spot. The Briton, who finished eighth after two nightmare pit-stops, has 49.
Red Bull also overtook McLaren in the constructors' championship.
Germany's Nico Rosberg, winner of the previous race in China in the first victory by a Mercedes works team since 1955, finished fifth with a stewards' enquiry hanging over him for moves on Hamilton and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
Britain's Paul Di Resta was sixth for Force India with Alonso seventh and Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa finally in the points in ninth ahead of Germany's seven-time champion Michael Schumacher in a Mercedes. Schumacher had started from 22nd on the grid.
Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Jenson Button retired on the final lap after a late puncture.
The 24-year-old German's 22nd career triumph, and first in the troubled Gulf kingdom, made him the fourth different winner in four races.
He was pushed hard in the closing laps by Finland's 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who finished second ahead of Lotus teammate Romain Grosjean in the Frenchman's first appearance on the F1 podium.
Australian Mark Webber was fourth in the other Red Bull for the fourth successive race.
"It was a difficult race, extremely tough," said Vettel, who closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he stood on the podium.
"I was lucky to have a good start, and that was crucial, as it let me pull away and open up a gap at the front. But Kimi challenged me - I think he must have found a dealer who had all those new tires."
Former Ferrari driver Raikkonen said: "I had one chance to pass him, but I couldn't quite do it and that was it. But it was a good race for us."
With the main grandstand half empty, and few spectators to be seen elsewhere at a circuit with a maximum capacity of 45,000, the race was a far from normal affair after days dominated by talk of petrol bombs and teargas.
Vettel, who had started from pole position for the first time this season after a record 15 starts from the top slot last year, made his trademark single-finger salute for the first time since last year after taking the checkered flag.
With fuel running low, he was then told to pull over and stop immediately at the pit exit - which meant he had to run down the pit lane to embrace his mechanics.
Vettel now has 53 points, ousting McLaren's Lewis Hamilton from the top spot. The Briton, who finished eighth after two nightmare pit-stops, has 49.
Red Bull also overtook McLaren in the constructors' championship.
Germany's Nico Rosberg, winner of the previous race in China in the first victory by a Mercedes works team since 1955, finished fifth with a stewards' enquiry hanging over him for moves on Hamilton and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
Britain's Paul Di Resta was sixth for Force India with Alonso seventh and Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa finally in the points in ninth ahead of Germany's seven-time champion Michael Schumacher in a Mercedes. Schumacher had started from 22nd on the grid.
Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Jenson Button retired on the final lap after a late puncture.
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