An amazing Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix ended with a win for Jenson Button in the race but for Sebastian Vettel in the Championship.
Vettel had gone into this last race of the year leading the championship by 13 points from Fernando Alonso; no one else was in contention for the title and it was Vettel's to lose. Incredibly, a first lap incident left the German in last place though it didn't take him long to work his way through the field and back into the points. The race was initially led by the two McLaren's driven by Hamilton and Button, with Force India's Nico Hulkenburg also to the fore and Alonso not far away; however, the weather had a say, leading to some gambles on tyre choices, and Hulkenburg managed to put Hamilton out of the race by colliding with him.
Jenson Button was then left to gradually build a comfortable lead over Massa, who quickly allowed Alonso passed; with the Spaniard in second place, Vettel had to finish at least 7th in order to take the title for a third successive year and, despite having a damaged car after the first lap incident, he duly obliged by finishing in sixth place. He therefore became the youngest driver to win the title 3 times and, at the same time, the youngest to win 3 successive titles.
As often in wet and changeable conditions, Button proved to be the man for the job and won the race comfortably. Alonso quite possibly showed himself to be the best overall driver having come within 3 points of the title in an inferior car, but it was Vettel who finally came out on top, demonstrating huge nerve and determination by keeping his wounded car going and maintaining a good level of performance throughout.
Now we must wait until next March to see what the 2013 season will bring - if it's half as dramatic as 2012, it will be well worth waiting for !
