Just watched the race and analysis just there after I got back to work after 10!
What a race! I thought it had Alonso written all over it due to the way the seasons gone, but it wasn't to be and Vettel comes through after a great come back! 2008 Brazil will always pip this race for me no matter what, maybe it's because I support Massa and had much more emotion at that time, and the fact that I watched it live.
First of all, I am gutted on how Hulkenberg's race ended, I was cheering him right from the start, was a real shame that his rears locked up. Certainly (in my opinion) deserved at least a podium. Not sure why he got the penalty, yes he may have collided with Hamilton, but he had the move done, and because of a downshift in tricky conditions the car lost control. Real shame.
Feel for Hamilton too, he was also having a great race, seemed to be flying after the safety car came in, was unfortunate to be taken out, but with the backmarkers in these conditions, something like this is inevitable, and it's a shame it had to be him and Hulkenberg being caught up in it as they both drove blinders!
Button drove a good race, went missing at times, had good battles with the other two. Thought the other two did a better job and were unfortunate, but nevertheless, he kept his nose clean and had the pace to win.
I've noticed people are quick to say Vettel was lucky in this race, but Alonso himself was rather fortunate. Webber taking on Vettel team-mate right at the start, and then Massa holding off the everyone behind when Alonso was really struggling, plus the retirements ahead. Not degrading the lad, but luck went both ways in this race, to call one lucky and not the other is not right. Clearly didn't have the pace to fight for the win or the podium, but a great start made it slightly easier for himself, and with the retirements ahead got himself into a championship winning position. Got to feel for him though, after the mighty effort he and the team have put in, both have been flawless, really shouldn't have been in the championship, but due to other teams and drivers misfortunes, plus some luck, he nearly pulled off an almighty mission.
Massa's emotions at the end where as if he lost the championship and not his team-mate. But woow! Did he do his job today! After doing all what he did, plus Ferrari toying with him, he finishes on the podium (with a bit of fortune). Several great overtakes by him too.
Since Korea he looked like he could have beaten Alonso on merit if he wanted, today he looked like he could have held half of the grid back fot Alonso, eat Alonso for breakfast, play games with the Red-Bulls and run rings around every car in sight.
The last quarter of 2012 he has looked like he is regaining his 2008 form.
If he has a good winter and carries this into next year anyone reckon he may challenge Alonso now and again?
Oh what it could have been for Hulkenberg. Race victory looked to be on the cards as he had the pace on merit and the lead, a slight mistake let's Hamilton through, closes the gap back, nearly had the overtake done until the rear snapped. Got a drive through penalty, whether he deserved it or not is 50/50, in my opinion I don't think he did. Managed to come back and get a 5th, any other time a 5th place would have been a great result for him and Force India, but 5th seems like nothing when you could sniff race victory. Going to Sauber next season who haven't done much the past few races, and with Force India having a strong end to the season, one could say he's made the wrong move, but we will only find out next year.
Ah three titles in a row for Vettel. Last year was a piece of cake compared to this year. Rollercoaster of a race for the World Champion, lost positions at the start, got spun around by Senna, hefty impact on the car, dead last, yet despite all that, was up into 6th by lap 8! Helped by a few retirements along the way, but a mighty effort. The Red Bull team though nearly paid back Ferrari the favour from 2010 by nearly costing Vettel the championship through the pitstops after bringing him in for new dry tyres, then a lap or two later for intermediates which put him out of the points. Nevertheless, came back through to finish 6th with a little help along the way from retirements etc. and was enough to become the youngest triple World Champion.
The maestro pulls another great performance out of the bag. After a puncture and being dead last and 30s behind his nearest rival, he manages to come through to finish 7th, was helped by the unlapping behind the safety car rule as he was a lap down. But despite that, with all his experience, he made the call for intermediate tyres after that and came home to finish 7th. Not a great result to end the career for a legend, but having an awful car like that, the 7th place must feel like a small victory for him and the Mercedes team this season. Should he have came back? Maybe not, but for the three seasons we had him back for, F1 came a little more exciting.
Was a fine performance by Kobayashi for his last race with Sauber. Was flatout from the start, overtaking the Red Bulls and Ferrari's, his pace went away towards the end, and the spun he got demoted from 6th to 9th. A few hairy moments as he often found his car twitching a lot, an achievement that he only spun once. His drive today showed that he's worthy of a place in F1, infact, the championship standings do. Finished the season 6 points behind his team-mate who's moved to McLaren, while he's left with no race seat? Unfair you may say, and I agree. A real shame to see him away from the grid, although he has calmed down on the kamikaze style, the best F1 Japanese driver in my opinion.
Down to Vergne. Was a naughty boy and was lucky to finish 9th. Lucky why? Because he took out Timo Glock from contention for the race for 10th place in the constructors. Cost them £10m, but no penalty given. Understandable if Marussia feel angry by this, as Glock looked to have had pace to achieve the 11th place that Vitaly Petrov got. Some much needed points for Vergne who hasn't scored for a while.
An eventful race for Kimi Raikkonen. Avoided taking out the triple World Champion going into Turn 3/4, in doing so, his race got comprimised from the get-go. The team pitted him too early for the intermediate tyres, where he lost lots of time, and was an uphill battle from there. Had some good battles, especially against his nemesis Michael Scumacher and passed him with a great overtake. Then seemed to have spun, and decided to join another racetrack, only to have realised that there was a gate blocking his way. Comes home with a point, and creates a new record of most Grand Prix finishes in a season by finishing all 20 races, scoring points in all but 1. Not bad for a come back season eh?
Di Resta is not looking too good at the moment, several incidents this race, and has been put into shade by Hulkenberg, being out-scored in the last 6 races by 32 points to 2. Hulkenberg at least had a minor excuse at the start of the season, he had a season out of F1 and hadn't raced with KERS, DRS and Pirelli tyres. But di Resta? He's not done much to catch the attention of top teams, yet was brooding about not getting chosen.
Will Grosjean keep his seat at Lotus? He's only scored 20 points compared to his team-mates 66 since Singapore and has retired from 7 Grand Prixs.
Who will get the Caterham seat? Heikki Kovalianen's seat depended on Caterham getting 10th in the constructors, they achieved that, but he looked dejected after the race and seemed to look as if it was his last race for Caterham, maybe in Formula 1 in total. Then there's Petrov, who brings money, has matched Kovalinen this season, and got that crucial 11th place in Brazil. But rumours are that it will be their third driver Giedo Van der Garde, who has good backing, but doesn't look to be an improvement on the two above mentioned.
Overall great season. Although I did start to lose interest after Belgium, but the past 3 races have been the best of the season, it's a shame that Hamilton wasn't in the title fight this season. A three way battle would have been great, but we've been spoiled enough this season.
Let's hope that the Kimster and Massa are competitive next year, and Buemi gets the race seat at Force India
off to you mate 
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