Down....To....The....Wire!!!!

Justin: Well fellow F1 fans, what a treat we have coming to us in a few days in Abu Dhabi! With Vettel, Webber and Fernando all finishing on the podium in Brazil these guys now take the title fight onwards. Hamilton is clinging on for dear life 24 points behind Alonso, but unless the 3 guys ahead of him all take each other off, then he hasn't much hope but the most remote.

A nod to my esteemed colleagues fine words about Fernando Alonso in his previous blog. Me thinks Lewis Hamilton was reading as Lewis spouted lots of kind words about Fernando over the weekend. Maybe he was trying to say "hey I'd like to go to Ferarri sometime"...or more likely it was him admitting defeat in the title race and saying "hey look, this guy is good"...or just F1 mind games. Mark Webber was certainly employing some honest mind games on Thursday when he swore and everything!

The race in Brazil was good, but perhaps a tad more processional than we have been used to lately. Vettel nailed The Hulk off the start, with Webber mugging him soon after. Alonso nipped past Lewis when the Mclaren man made an unforced error, then Fernando got bogged down for a few laps behind the Williams rookie and this cost him dearly in being able to take any sort of fight to the Red Bull's as they dissapeared into the distance. Interestingly, before the race Hamilton spoke of an extra spark when he and Fernando see each other in their mirrors and who knows what will happen when they are beside each other on the track.....well, Lewis will bottle it, as he has done plenty of times this season.

Webber was chasing Vettel hard through the traffic and was never more than a couple of seconds behind, but after the safety car period Webber had engine issues and Vettel raced into the distance. Alonso stayed in 3rd for the duration and brought home one of those podiums he always goes on about.

Button had a relatively good day, if being relieved of the world title can be described as that. He started 11th but finished just behind Lewis in fifth.

Elsewhere, Massa had a nightmare of a race it has to be said, whilst Kubica was relatively quiet too. The Michael finished in the points after another good showing it has to be said. If he drives next year like he has driven the last 2 or 3 races then he could do well. Alonso will swat him away though, just as he did in 05 and 06.

During the race Martin Brundle pointed out that leaving Webber behind Vettel gave Alonso an easy ride into Yas Marina and that Red Bull should switch the two drivers. Later as Vettel won though, he changed his mind and said having both drivers in contention is best for the team in case one of them falls off the track. He also said that if Red Bull arent telling Vettel to move over then equally they can give no order to Webber saying "go easy and let off a bit Mark".

Tellingly, EJ put the question to Horner after the race...."if the positions are the same in Abu Dhabi, Vettel cannot win the drivers title, so will you switch them?". In a roundabout way, Horner answered with a definite yes. Even Vettel has heavily hinted that in that situation he will let Webber by.

I thought Webber wouldnt be happy on the podium, having had a right go at Vettel on the track, but he seemed rather happy.....no wonder if those are the arrangements for Yas Marina.

Two things to say before I wrap this one up.

First is that we have a sort of, perhaps, season finale I Was Having a Blog live event on Sunday the 14th. My co-blogger hasnt confirmed his attendance but I and one of our readers, the esteemed Dr Winston, will be watching.

The second is that I just googled "I was having a blog" and we are 5th or 6th in the results that get shown!!!!!! I think this is because I referenced a link, more than once, to a BBC blogger by the name of Andrew Benson. But try it, the blog in question is one I posted a fair while ago called "Red Mist".

My prediction for Abu Dhabi......fuck knows, the way this season has gone! I won't be surprised if the podium consists of Vettel, Webber and Alonso though. Hell, they could all even end up on the same points!