The Brazilian Grand Prix brought the curtain down on an astonishing F1 season as
Sebastian Vettel beat
Fernando Alonso to the crown – becoming the youngest triple champion in the history of the sport in the process.
Here,
Crash.net takes a race-by-race look at how Red Bull's German racer overturned a 44 point deficit at the half-way stage of the season to take the title away from Alonso and Ferrari…
To read part one, covering the first ten races of the season, CLICK HERE.
Hungary:
Lewis Hamilton wins the final race before the summer break, with Vettel and Alonso unable to challenge the
McLaren man for victory. Vettel qualifies in third place and has the stronger race of the pair, although time lost behind Button early on proves to be vital. A late switch to a three-stop strategy almost comes good as he closes on
Romain Grosjean late on but he can't pass the Frenchman and crosses the line just off the podium in fourth.
Alonso starts sixth but doesn't have high hopes for race day and admits surprise at being able to cross the line in fifth having extended his run of points finishes to an impressive 23.
Standings:
1.
Alonso 164
3.
Vettel 122 (-42)
Belgium:
Jenson Button takes a dominant win in a race that turns into a disaster for Alonso; with his run of points finishes being brought to a dramatic end. The Spaniard qualifies in sixth place but it wiped out at turn one after being caught up in an accident involving Hamilton and Grosjean and fails to score.
Vettel meanwhile fails to make it through to Q3 but starts tenth thanks to a gearbox penalty for team-mate Mark Webber. Although delayed by the first lap incident ahead, the German soon starts to make up places and a one-stop strategy plays a major part in him coming through to second place.
Standings:
1.
Alonso 164
2.
Vettel 140 (-24)
Italy:
Hamilton wins at Monza as Vettel discovers it is his turn to run into trouble. The German starts sixth and looks set to finish in the same position despite losing time when handed a drive-through penalty for forcing Alonso onto the grass through the Curva Grande. However, an alternator issue means he parks up with five laps to go.
Alonso meanwhile endures a frustrating qualifying session as a roll-bar problem leaves him well off the pace in tenth but he recovers well on race day to bring his car home in third place; securing a podium in front of the
Tifosi.
Standings:
1.
Alonso 179
4.
Vettel 140 (-39)
Singapore: