The Talent of Alonso versus the Genius of Adrian Newey

Taking the chequered flag in India, making it four race victories in a row, Sebastian Vettel is well on course to being the next triple Formula One World Champion. Despite having a 'rocky' start, Red Bull have gained momentum throughout the season and are now, again, the team the others are trying to catch, both in terms of pace and in terms of technical development. Having been the masters of the exhaust blown diffuser technology in 2011, Red Bull were perhaps starting off on the back foot due to it's ban for 2012. The team didn't have the pace, especially in qualifying, that they would have liked. However, the genius that is chief technical officer Adrian Newey has now found another key to the secret in injecting more rear downforce, thus giving us the Red Bull domination that has seen Vettel lead for over 200 consecutive laps.

Sebastian Vettel makes it four in a row.

There is still one man who can halt the Vettel juggernault though and his performance in India was a demonstration of his exceptional talent. Having qualified in fifth place and knowing that he needed to get as close as possible to the Red Bulls, Fernando Alonso made full use of the slipstream from both McLarens in front of him to take fourth place from Lewis Hamilton. This manouevre was testament to his skill, together with that of Hamilton and Button, as all three showed how fighting for places on the first lap of a race should be done, demonstrating exciting racing without making contact. From there, Alonso continued to push, taking third place from Button on lap four. In order to give Alonso the pace he was asking for after qualifying, Ferrari were running a light fuel load, but this was well managed by late braking, enabling him to catch and overtake Mark Webber for second place.

An important second place for Alonso

Alonso's title chances should never be overlooked, even if trailing Vettel and the mighty Newey designed Red Bull. In a car that isn't even second best on the grid he knows what he has to do and he always delivers. The championship is a two horse race now. One that is being fought by a talented, courageous racer against a sublime piece of machinery designed by an exceptional technical brain. I know which I believe to be a more deserving winner.