McLaren drivers relinquish 2 titles in 1 day

Sunday 14th November 2010 saw the exhilarating conclusion of the Formula 1 2010 season, and a new F1 title winner.

Sebastian Vettel of RedBull Racing won the title for the first time and takes two personal titles from the two McLaren drivers. Lewis Hamilton was the youngest ever F1 World Driver's Champion when he won the title in 2008 and Jenson Button was the most recent WDC, having won in 2009.
This win means there will be 5 F1 Champions in the starting grid of the 2011 season.

Photo from: Getty Images

Title decider in Abu Dhabi

Last week's race in Brazil did not give us the 2010 World Driver's Championship winner but it did crown Red Bull as the World Constructor's Champions, as their gap to the second team is larger than 43 points.

Fernando Alonso still leads the Championship at the moment with 246 points, Webber is 8 points adrift and Vettel is a further 7 points away from Webber. The last driver still mathematically in contention of the title is Lewis Hamilton, who has 222 points, 24 off Alonso's total. Therefore he would need a 'miracle' to win the WDC.

Hamilton will be champion if…
He wins, Vettel is 3rd or worse, Webber is 6th or worse and Alonso doesn’t come in the top 10

Alonso will be Champion if…
He wins at Abu Dhabi.
He finishes 2nd on Sunday.
He finishes 3rd and Webber doesn’t win.
He comes 4th and Webber is 2nd or less.
He comes in 5th neither Vettel or Webber win.
He finishes 6th, Vettel is 2nd and Webber 3rd.
He’s 7th or 8th, Vettel is second or worse, Webber 4th or worse.
He’s 9th, Vettel is 3rd or worse, Webber 5th or worse.
He doesn’t finish, Hamilton is 2nd or worse, Vettel is 3rd or worse, Webber 5th or worse.

Webber will be champion if…
He wins and Alonso is 3rd or worse
He comes 2nd, Vettel 3rd or worse and Alonso 6th or worse
He comes 3rd, Vettel 2nd or worse, Alonso 7th or worse
He comes 4th, Vettel 2nd or worse, Alonso 9th or worse
He finishes 5th, Vettel’s 3rd or worse, Alonso is 10th or worse

Vettel will be champion if…
He wins and Alonso is 5th or worse
He comes 2nd, Webber is 5th or worse and Alonso is 9th or worse

Hamilton could also play a role in crowning one of the RedBulls the champion, if he prevents Alonso from finishing 3rd on Sunday.

Predictions from http://www.f1badger.com/2010/11/how-your-man-can-win-the-title/

2010 F1 Champion decided in Brazil?

This weekend's race in Brazil could determine the 2010 winner. How? According to BBC's Andrew Benson, Fernando Alonso is in a very strong position and could win the 2010 WDC title this weekend if:

• If he wins in Brazil, Webber must finish fourth or higher to keep the championship alive. Everyone else would be out of contention, regardless of where they finish.
• If Alonso is second, Webber must be higher than eighth to stay in it, Hamilton higher than fourth and Vettel must win.
• If Alonso is third, Webber must score points, Hamilton must be in the top four and Vettel in the top three.
• If Alonso finishes lower than third, the championship will stay open to the last race because Webber, at least, will still be able to win regardless of where he finishes.

Let's hope the teams in contention have their best strategists on the computers working out a way to keep Alonso from the front row of the grid.