After an utterly fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka two weekends ago, it is all too obvious that the 2010 season is almost complete.
The three remaining races, Yeongam in South Korea, Interlagos in Brazil and Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, should be exhilaratingly tense and spectacular right up to the final chequered flag That is of course provided things play into the hands of the main chasers Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton and unfortunately to a lesser extent the reigning world champion Jenson Button.
However there is a chance, and it’s a fairly big chance, that Webber will maintain the momentum he’s gained throughout the season and clinch the title, converting 16 races so far into 9 podiums; 4 of them being victories. His convincing win at Monaco would be the crowning achievement of the 35 year old’s most impressive season to date.
But as notable as Webber’s performance has been throughout 2010, especially when pitted against Vettel in the sister car, with all the allegations of unfair team bias being lobbied towards the latter’s season, I genuinely believe that the sport as a whole needs a climactic battle right down to the last lap of the last race. The Yas Marina circuit also needs a good race after 2009's less than thrilling Grand Prix, even with Button's championship being sealed at its end. This can only do the sport a favour in the eyes of many who would normally change the channel on a Sunday afternoon, as well as the F1 ‘unsubscribers’ who have become less and less attracted by the sport because it’s “Not like the good old days”.
With four World Champions in the top 9 of the points haul so far after Suzuka, as well as 2 widely forecasted future drivers deserving of the crown in Vettel and Kubica, my hopes are that new South Korean track produces a historical race, one which erases the troubled and close-to-call run up to its development and construction. Let’s try to forget that the FIA broke their own rules, inspecting the circuit just 2 weeks before the race weekend, when all rules state it should be 90 days. I wonder, would the location of the British Grand Prix have been at Donnington afterall should such leeway have been granted?
Anyway, enough off-topic speculation. All sights are now on a possibly spectacular 3 race season finale. With the maximum of 75 points up for grabs, it’s Webber’s to lose and the other’s to race for.
