Sebastian Vettel deserves title say Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso has paid tribute to his rival Sebastian Vettel, saying the Red Bull driver deserves to win the world title this season.

Vettel can be crowned this Sunday if he wins and Alonso is lower than third with McLaren's Jenson Button and Red Bull's Mark Webber lower than second.

Alonso said: "He's been the best driver, (with) the best team. They deserve to be where they are."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton added Vettel had been "exceptional this year".

Vettel said he was going to treat the Singapore weekend like any other race.

"So far we haven't won anything," the German said. "(There is) still some way to go, we have to race and do our best.

"It is a long way to the chequered flag. Certain things have to happen, and it reminds me a little bit of the situation we had in Abu Dhabi last year when people came up and gave me another option every five minutes.

"The target is to optimise our performance. The target has been to defend our title, there is no reason why the target should change."

And Vettel denied he felt under any extra pressure this weekend because of the championship being so close.

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If you race people like Fernando, people with a lot of experience and who you respect a lot, you can really push the limits and really go wheel to wheel without thinking about it

Sebastian Vettel

"There is always pressure on us because we want to achieve our best every weekend, and if there is a chance to win we want to go for it," the 24-year-old said.

"I don't feel any extra pressure trying to win the championship here or any one particular place.

"The target going into the season was not to win the championship by Singapore or any other race it was to win the championship. This race is as as important as anywhere else."

Vettel has won eight of the 13 races so far and has taken 10 pole positions. He leads the championship from Alonso by 112 points, with only 150 still available.

The two also finished first and second in the championship last year, when Vettel snatched the title from Alonso at the last race in Abu Dhabi after a catastrophic strategy error by Ferrari left the Spaniard stranded down the field.

Alonso said: "This year, he has made no mistakes or very few mistakes. Last year we had a little bit more chances.

"Red Bull were also very dominant last year, but they had some trouble in some races. I remember in Turkey they crashed together, and in some other races they had mechanical failure, engine problems, etc.

"This year they improve these problems. The car is still as quick as last year but they finish all the races. He is the only one to finish all the races. Plus he is driving very, very well.

"When you have a dominant car it is easy to do a pole and win a race, but there have been occasions when the conditions were very tricky and he managed to put the car on pole and drove a perfect race from start to the end."

"He has made very few mistakes, and even the two small mistakes he has made have not been very costly. I take my hat off to him."Hamilton added: "He has really driven very, very well. He has finished first and second in all the races apart from one, massively consistent, massively controlled, his persona, his attitude has been very professional.

Alonso and Vettel battled for the lead in the early stages of the Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago, when the Red Bull driver put two wheels on the grass while passing Alonso at 200mph after the Ferrari driver 'squeezed' him to the outside of the track.

The two men discussed it before going out onto the podium after the race.

It was reported that Vettel asked the stewards to look at Alonso's driving, but he denied that and said there was no problem between them.

"He didn't expect me to go on the left, to try the inside for the second chicane, so initially he didn't see me," Vettel said, "but as soon as he saw me, he pulled to the right and gave me enough room.

"It was borderline but I knew if I wanted to get past I needed to try something.

"Actually, it was more critical the lap before when I was on the right on the outside at the second chicane and he moved a little bit under braking to the right and there wasn't much room for me, we talked about it after the race and I think it's fine.

"Generally, if you race people like Fernando, people with a lot of experience and who you respect a lot, you can really push the limits and really go wheel to wheel without thinking about it, and know the guy will know you are there and give you just enough room - not a lot, but enough."

From BBC Sport

McLaren says team and drivers 'will keep taking risks'

Button and Hamilton are 117 and 126 points respectively behind leader Vettel

McLaren say the team and its drivers will keep taking risks - despite the approach harming their title challenge.

A series of mistakes have proved costly for the team in 2011 with Jenson Button conceding that the title has now gone.

When asked by BBC Sport whether McLaren would continue to take risks, the team's managing director Jonathan Neale said: "Yes, very much so.

"We're dissatisfied with not winning but [Formula 1] is not a game of being risk-adverse."

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Winning is why we're here - races as well as championships - and it's too early for us to bail out completely

Jonathan NealeMcLaren managing director

Button and McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton are 117 and 126 points respectively behind Red Bull's championship leader Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' standings with 150 remaining.

The two drivers have each won two races this season but also racked up two retirements apiece with the team, at times, failing to capitalise when they had the quickest car at certain points in the season.

Button saw his race end early when the team did not fully secure his right front wheel in the pits at the British Grand Prix, while, at Spa, the 2009 world champion had to battle from 13th on the grid to thirdafter a "miscommunication" with his team in qualifying.

In Hungary, Hamilton lost the lead when he made the wrong tyre choice and crashed out in Belgium when he tried to pass the Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi.

And in Canada, the two drivers banged wheels during the race. Button went on to win but Hamilton was forced to retire.

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

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	Team	Points
Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	284
Fernando Alonso	Ferrari	172
Jenson Button	McLaren	167
Mark Webber	Red Bull	167
Lewis Hamilton	McLaren	158

Full standings

Despite the big gap to Vettel in the drivers' standings and teams such as Ferrari deciding to put their effort into their 2012 vehicle, Neale insisted the team are not disheartened and will continue to develop this year's car.

He added: "I think we have put up, at times, a very credible fight this year and we will continue to do that until the end of the season.

"It's true you have to be good everywhere and there are lots of teams, including ourselves, who would look back at operational issues and race incidents [this season] and think, 'if only'. That's the nature of the sport.

"We're not disheartened, downbeat or anything other than determined to win races between now and the start of next season.

"We look at six more races and six more opportunities to win. Winning is why we're here - races as well as championships - and it's too early for us to bail out completely.

"It's still possible to get performance on this year's car and generate know-how for next year. These are the areas we are focusing on now so there will be no lift at this end.

"We're determined to start next year with a car that is quick and reliable from the outset."

From BBC Sport

Karthikeyan to practice in Singapore and race in India

Narain Karthikeyan will make a race return for Hispania at the inaugural Indian GP on 30 October.

The 34-year-old Indian will have some advance cockpit time during Friday practice at next week's Singapore GP.

Karthikeyan contested the first half of the season for the team before making way for Daniel Ricciardo.

"It is great to have Narain back in the car as it will give him critical seat time before he drives the Indian GP," said team boss Colin Kolles.

Karthikeyan added: "The team assured me I'd be driving in India when I stepped out of my seat after the European GP."

The 34-year-old Karthikeyan made his F1 debut with Jordan in 2005, when he finished fourth at the US Grand Prix. He joined Hispania at the beginning of the season after a five-year F1 absence.

KARTHIKEYAN'S MILESTONE MOMENTS

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• Finished fourth for Jordan as only six cars finished US GP
• Set new record for lowest placed finisher in 23rd place at Chinese GP in April
• Broke record by finishing 24th at Valenica in June amid race with no retirements

Karthikeyan stepped down to make way for the rookie Australian Ricciardo after the European GP at Valencia in June.

"It's a great feeling to be driving on a grand prix weekend once again," Karthikeyan said. "The Singapore street circuit will definitely be a challenge. It's new to me and very demanding physically because of the high speed, the temperature, humidity and extreme bumps.

"It will go a long way to getting me back in the rhythm for the Indian GP. It will be a dream come true to race in front of a home crowd there."

As a night race, the Singapore GP around the Marina Bay circuit is unique on the F1 calendar.

With Team Lotus expected to give Karun Chandhok a second race at his home event in Dehli, the Indian GP looks set to boast two home drivers.

From BBC Sport

Sebastian Vettel cruises to dominant Italian GP victory

Sebastian Vettel fought back to win Red Bull's first Italian Grand Prix and move closer to a second world title.

Fernando Alonso took the lead with a brilliant start but Vettel re-passed him to take his eighth win of the year.

Jenson Button's fast-finishing McLaren passed Alonso later on and Lewis Hamilton was fourth after losing time in a fight with Michael Schumacher.

Red Bull's Mark Webber crashed out and was one of eight cars to retire from the exciting race.

Are we witnessing one of the true legends of the sport?  BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard

Vettel now leads the championship from Alonso by 112 points which means his first chance to seal a consecutive world title will come in Singapore in a fortnight's time.

"It's no big surprise that this man is the winner again," said BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard.

"Are we witnessing one of the true legends of the sport? He's proven today he's fighting for victories even when he does not have to take a risk."

Vettel's victory completed a happy return to Monza, where the German first started making history when he became the youngest ever grand prix winner when he won his maiden race at the historic circuit for Toro Rosso three years ago.

Vettel had lost the lead off the line as Alonso bravely squeezed his Ferrari down the inside from fourth on the grid.

But the world champion displayed his own dash of daring to re-pass Alonso with a high-speed move around the outside of Curva Grande and into the second chicane on lap five.

I think we're all battling for second now. Sebastian needs to have a very, very incredible finish to take the championship off him  Mark Webber

From there, Vettel steadily built his lead and when he pitted for soft tyres 15 laps later he comfortably returned way out in front and was never challenged on his way to the flag.

His team-mate Webber lost second place in the standings and conceded his championship was over as he retired following a crash with Felipe Massa.

The Australian lost his front wing as he battled the Ferrari for fifth and found himself in the gravel as the wing got trapped under his car.

"I tried to bail out of the move but clipped the curb," explained Webber. "The front wing was under the car and I lost steering.

"I think we're all battling for second now. Sebastian needs to have a very, very incredible finish to take the championship off him. This [race] is a missed opportunity for me."

Button played a waiting game in the opening stages of the race but seized the advantage when Hamilton ran wide as he chased down Michael Schumacher's Mercedes.

As his English team-mate edged his wheels on the grass, Button moved beyond Schumacher for fourth and stayed ahead of him at the first pit stop.

When Alonso and Button switched to the harder medium tyres at the second stop, Button found himself up to speed much more quickly than the Ferrari.

Button swept past Alonso for second on lap 36 and was untroubled as he held on to second - just where he finished in Monza last season.

In contrast, a crash on the opening lap, which was caused when Tonio Liuzzi's HRT slammed into the train of cars, was to have an impact on Hamilton's race.

The McLaren driver was caught napping as the race restarted once the safety car, which had been called out for the opening-lap crash, retreated and he was jumped by Schumacher.

The pair spent almost half the race locked in an entertaining battle for position as Hamilton even found himself behind the Mercedes after his first stop.

Hamilton finally found his way past Schumacher as the German yielded position on the approach to Ascari only to find himself once again staring at the back of the Mercedes after his second pit stop.

Hamilton finally passed the seven-time world champion with 15 laps to go and crossed the line in fourth.

Schumacher collected fifth ahead of Massa, Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari - who had started from 19th on the grid.

Scot Paul di Resta got back in the points with eighth for Force India and Bruno Senna collected his first F1 points with ninth in the Renault. Sebastien Buemi was 10th for Toro Rosso.

Webber was one of eight retirements which also included Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and Renault's Vitaly Petrov, who were tangled up in the first corner crash.

From BBC Sport

Of incidents and accidents....

'We'll do Delhia without the Delhia, then perhaps we'll avoid the carbooters and horseboxists, maybe a quick stop for coffee at Mick's Monster Burger Truck on the top of the hill, and then catch that road that's usually full of cyclists with the narrow bridge where I nearly stacked it, the 272 (reverential pause), Steep Hill and back via The Bends and across to the camp site and the (c)Anal Cafe for breakfast.What d'ya reckon?'

...is some idea of the content of the pre blat plan briefing before heading off from the start point.

The usual response to this scattering of  landmarks, incidents, numbers, hints and history is: 'I'll follow you then'. Probably wise, but this does require engagement in a roulette game of chance that, when lost, can leave intelligent fathers, husbands and previously clear thinking DIY experts marooned in the darkest of back roads miles from home!

Quick! Over-take, I don't wan'na  get lost!

So often the pack can easily  be split at a roundabout, or, can turn unseen up a side road. Within moments the missing man can be a couple of miles out of formation. Spurred on by the ever reducing chance of making it back home to laminate the flooring before lunch, the inevitability of having to ask the pyjama clad gent in wellies, walking a very small dog, 'which way to civilisation?' is a situation really best avoided. Even more so, having to engage the stained jodhpur scratching horse woman (without horse, but with riding crop) to determine, which way, pray tell, is out?

No, no, I'd rather lead the way, make it up , pretend I meant to turn left and then pull a U-turn back the same way, anything to avoid that lost behind the lines feeling ...or, alternatively, follow a carefully plotted SatNav file... up someone's drive! Just don't leave me in my little car in the backroads at 7 in the morning, I mean there's Landrovers and big tractors with Caterham catchers on the front in those places! It's not all fun this you know, we have to suffer for our art! (Art? Really?).

So why then did Qwick Qwaig fell off the back...twice. Especially as he was due home by 10 for some DIY duties. Blatiquette says that a single 7 search party will go on a rescue mission whilst the others wait in position for the hopeful return of the pair.This does rely, to a certain extent, on the lost driver realising his predicament and back tracking to the most likely 'departure from route' point. And whilst the wait ensues, well, hang around a bit, talk about the lost man, take photos or have a wee.

We didn't see Qwaig again, he was understood to have got home 2 days later. He got told off.

Breakfast was delayed and attached to the end of the blat for a change, mainly to catch more driving time with less traffic. However, it would be with caution that we plan the same again. With concentration levels low and the loss of Qwaig somewhere in Sussex adding to a hypoglycaemic dip, it was then that I decided not to check that the road ahead was clear before rolling on to the roundabout! 

I thought you'd gone mate!! 

How embarrasing!? Jeeez. Sorry Ian. It's taken two weeks to overcome the shame to post this. A new fog light and some artistic tapping from the inside and Ian has restored a level of acceptability to a previously ripple free back panel.It soooo nearly could have been a whole lot worse... I remember almost giving it the full beans to go for a gap, but coasted forward instead.I'll eat breakfast earlier and pay more attention in future.Normal ops have been re-instated. 

My nose cone? Nothing there. Tough old tank. 

At least Ian got home. Poor Qwaig. They eat Scotsmen in Sussex.

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Photo from New Zealand

Our most southern Sunrise Sevener, Viv, sent in this photo: Top of Takaka Hill, South Island , great vista of the Kahurangi Range in the early Spring sunshine..... Oh, and his beautiful Series 1 Lotus 7 'tool room' replica with a Coventry Climax 1500cc engine... inspired from his chat with Edward Lewis in 2007 perhaps? (See previous post.)

Viv and Hal out for a run on NZ's fathers day.

~7~

Brighton Bank Holiday Sunshine.

When the sun shines on a Bank Holiday Monday it's even worth the risk in following the crowd south to the traditional destination for the last long weekend of the year : Brighton.

By 8am the sea front hadn't yet tempted many by it's pebbled charm. A few Mods on shiny scooters stood sentry for the tradition of what remains of the 60's in their minds. Overwarm in their fur rimmed parkas (they'd dressed for the traditional bank holiday Monday weather) they were to break their commitment to tradition by taking tea and bacon sandwiches in the same cafe as the modern descendant of their 'Rocker' arch enemy. I suppose like any herding animal lacking enough of it's own number, they can at least mix these days, in shared flashback, without the flick-knife! 

Then

Madeira Drive is also an historic location in Lotus 7 history. The first ever 'production' 7 supplied to a Mr Edward Lewis (proprietor of Westover Shoes , manufacturers of racing footwear!) made it's first ever appearance at the Brighton Speed trials on September the 7th 1957. 54 years ago and won it's class, virtually straight out of the box. The day after, Lewis took the car to Prescott hillclimb and won the 1100cc sports car class, it's second outing... and so the story began.

  

Lewis, 1st Series 1 Seven , around 'then' as well.

                                                Southern Hemisphere Sunrise Sevener Viv with Edward Lewis in 2007

 at the Lotus 7 50th anniversary meet discussing back 'then'.

...in the background Graham Nearn!

Qwaig, on Madeira Drive, in his distant cousin of the Series 1 Lotus 7 , 57 years later than 'then'.

With homage dutifully paid, and with beach front numbers increasing, the return blat leg of 75 miles was calling. But not before the habitual stop at Devils Dyke was ticked off...well it was great weather and the view across the Weald back to the North Downs served to tempt us like dogs being shown a bone, (or Andy M a nice roadside hedge!). The A272 traverses most of the countryside viewed from the top of this hill and our history will record mornings like this as being, mostly, bloody brilliant.

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