Racing Toward the Wildest Finish in HistoryFormula 1 Title Comes Down to Sunday's Final Race with Four Men in Contention; the 'Greatest' Season in 60 YearsBy A.J. BAIME
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703805004575606634259949448.html#articleTabs%3DarticleFor the first time in 60 years of Formula 1 racing, a season has come down to the final Grand Prix, with four drivers in contention for the World Championship—the most coveted title in all of international motorsports.
After 18 races on five continents, 1,074 laps of high-speed action over the course of eight months, these four—Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton—will climb into their chariots this Sunday in hopes of being crowned champion at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.
The chances of this happening? It's like having a BCS title showdown with a half dozen undefeated teams, or an Olympic marathon with a tight pack of athletes in a sprint race for the final mile. Even McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh, who's unlikely to walk away with any big trophy this weekend, has hailed 2010's Formula 1 season as "probably the greatest in history."
"I've been in racing for 51 years and I've never seen anything like this," said David Hobbs, a former F1 driver who'll call Sunday's race on TV.
Mr. Alonso, of the Ferrari team, is best-positioned, with 246 points. Messrs. Webber and Vettel, both of Red Bull, have 238 and 231 points, respectively. McLaren's Mr. Hamilton sits at 222. Messrs. Alonso and Hamilton have both won World Championships—Mr. Alonso twice.
"It's hard to explain," said Mario Andretti about becoming F1 world champion. Mr. Andretti is one of only two Americans ever to do so—with Lotus in 1978. "Your whole life, your career—it's the ultimate satisfaction."
Even before the first Grand Prix in March, the 2010 season was shaping up like none other.
First there was the return of 41-year-old seven-time champ Michael Schumacher after three years of retirement.
Then came news of rules changes. A revamped scoring system offered more points for winning (25 as opposed to 10), discouraging drivers from strategically trying to rack up points with second- and third-place finishes.
Finally, fans delighted over the return of Mercedes and Lotus teams to F1, giving the season an old school flavor reminiscent of the Golden Age of racing in the 1950s and '60s. Mercedes hadn't fielded an F1 team since 1955. Lotus is back for the first time since 1994.
So who'll come out on top? "Anything can happen," said Mr. Andretti. "We've seen this all season long. You look back at what might have been for some, and others who got that one break that put them in contention.…It could be a first-lap situation for one of these drivers, and that's it, it's over."
Below, a closer look at the men with everything to win and everything to lose in Abu Dhabi.
Fernando Alonso (29 years old, Spain, Ferrari): Any smart gambler has to put his money on Mr. Alonso, who made a stunning comeback the second half of the season to lead the table going into the final race. "He has that little bit of winner's luck," said Mr. Hobbs. "As Napoleon said, 'Don't bring me a good general, bring me a lucky general.' " The Ferrari driver also has mathematics on his side: A second-place finish makes him champion. Even third would be enough as long as his closest contender, Mr. Webber, didn't take the checkered flag.
Mark Webber (34, Australia, Red Bull): The only Australian to win a Formula 1 race since Alan Jones in 1981, Mr. Webber has the most at stake. Racing is a young man's sport, and this is likely the only time he'll get this close. His calling card? "Tenacity," said Derek Hill, who raced professionally against Mr. Webber, "and a maturity that gives him the edge." After a spectacular somersaulting crash in June, Mr. Webber's lucky to be alive. If he wins Sunday, he needs Mr. Alonso to place third or worse. If Mr. Webber places second, he'll need Mr. Alonso to finish sixth or worse.
Sebastian Vettel (23, Germany, Red Bull): The young supertalent has skyrocketed to the top over the past three years, culminating in a brilliant win in Brazil last week. "I think Vettel will win multiple championships in the future," said Mr. Hobbs. But this year? He would have to finish second or better to have a shot. His best chance is to win and see Mr. Alonso finish sixth or worse and Mr. Webber to finish third or worse.
Lewis Hamilton (25, Great Britain, McLaren): The 2008 champion, Mr. Hamilton's hopes this year are barely alive. The only way he can do it is to win and see Mr. Alonso finish 11th or worse, Mr. Webber sixth or worse and Mr. Vettel third or worse. "I have nothing to lose now," he said after last Sunday's Grand Prix in Brazil. "We've seen many times before that almost anything can happen in the last race of the season. It'll take a miracle—but miracles can happen."