Back in March, and then last week I suggested that Fernando Alonso or Mark Webber would win the Formula 1 World Championship, and if I'm honest before the red lights went out to signal the start of the final race in Abu Dhabi yesterday, I was still of that opinion as I suspect were many other viewers, pundits and those involved in the sport.
Yet again though the world of sport showed just how tough it is to predict a result and 90 minutes after the red lights went out the young German Sebastian Vettel took the chequered flag and as he was going round his warm down lap to the pits it was confirmed that he was the youngest World Champion to grace the sport and his team Red Bull had completed in the space of 8 days a double of Constructors and Drivers Championships.
I have to admit to not being a huge Sebastian Vettel fan, and I don't really know why as in three full seasons in F1 has seen him display his talent at just about every race in which he has competed, from winning a race in the unfancied Toro Rosso team in 2008, becoming Jenson Button's main challenger throughout the 2009 season and then demonstrating he was clearly the fastest driver in 2010 with his clutch of 10 pole positions, 5 face wins and no doubt more fastest laps than any of his rivals this season. The only thing I can think of, is that because he had not led the championship in either of the last 2 seasons that he didn't have what it took to become the champion even though he was always in the mix.
Behind closed doors at Ferrari there will be an inquest into the strategy decision that led to Alonso being bottled up in the midfield for much of the race, but then like me they regarded Webber and not Vettel as the main threat for the championship. As I commented on Friday, I thought Alonso was due a bad race but I had no idea that it would be the Renault of Vitaly Petrov who would be the thorn in his side as I imagined it would be the McLarens who may prove to be his undoing.
On the question of strategy, Red Bull were fully vindicated in their decision in Brazil to leave Webber in second place behind Vettel and have to be congratulated on that, as they do in rising to the top of the tree in the six years they have been in the sport. Of course, now that they are at the top it will be interesting to see if they can maintain that performance and I for one hope they can.
2010 has to go down as one of the most fascinating and enthralling championships of all time and I hope has led to it attracting a whole new fan base. Next year offers as much if not even more potential with the likelihood of five former World Champions on the starting grid and another three of four drivers to add to this list and at least be in the running for race wins.
Yet again there will be a number of changes to the rules for 2011 with the banning of double diffusers and F-Ducts, as well as the return of KERS. However, the biggest variable could be a new tyre manufacturer (Pirelli) entering the fray to replace Bridgestone. Though this will be the same for all teams, with less than 120 days before the start of the next season there is not much time for the car designers to develop their cars that best suit the new tyre's characteristics. With the likelihood that Pirelli will be developing their tyres throughout the season as they receive feedback this change will be a very significant joker in the pack for 2011.
I for one can't wait to the start of the next season and hope it provides the same level of excitement and anticipation as has been generated in the last nine months. My early prediction is for Hamilton to be World Champion but this is more based on hope than through any genuine reasoning. Bring it on!
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