'In the end Kimi deserved it' admits BriatoreWith their World Championship battle behind them,
Fernando Alonso and
Kimi Raikkonen displayed their fighting skills in a thrilling Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka today. The battle for supremacy, which was ultimately won by Raikkonen,
proved Formula One is in good hands as the new order showed they have what it takes to go wheel-to-wheel with their rivals on track.
Even the losing Renault driver's boss Flavio Briatore was thrilled by the spectacle. "I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the overtaking, it was a fantastic race and the people woke up to watch it in Europe will be amazed by it. It was a good race for Formula One, we had overtaking, dramatic incidents and a battle for the lead that went down to the final lap. It was a good race for the spectators and we need every race like that."
Race day was thrown up in the air by a partially wet qualifying session, something that mixed up the order at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and caused controversy because it turns proceedings into a lottery. But with outgoing World Champion
Michael Schumacher starting in 14th place, Alonso starting 16th, Raikkonen starting 17th and Raikkonen's team-mate
Juan Pablo Montoya at the back it was clear there were going to be fireworks.
Giancarlo Fisichella was the only one of the top five in the drivers' championship to start from a familiar position after setting his third-best time before the rain fell heavily in qualifying Saturday. He looked set to win the race but fell at the final hurdle when the hard-charging Raikkonen closed in and passed him on the last lap in one of the best Grand Prix finishes in recent history. Briatore and Fisichella had to accept second...
"Giancarlo was very correct, and that happens," he Renault boss said. "For sure it was painful, I am not saying I am happy, but it happens. I was surprised to have Kimi overtake us in those circumstances, but in the end Kimi deserved it. I think Fernando did not a good job, but a fantastic job, and Fisichella as well. It was a good fight and we enjoyed it, and before the last one I enjoyed all the overtaking!"
The race suggested the current single-lap qualifying format, which was introduced in 2003 and is facing the scrap next year, does actually work, but Briatore insisted only the random wet weather can make it a success. It did enough, however, to stop McLaren from achieving an expected one-two finish and instead handed back the advantage in the constructors' championship to Renault, who now lead their rivals by two points.
Raikkonen, however, has now taken more race victories than the Drivers' Championship winner Alonso with seven wins to Alonso's six and the Spaniard will be keen to level that score in the final race of the year.
The season now heads to China, next week, with proposals for change including new qualifying, a return to tyre changes and a number of other shake-up changes, under discussion. But Suzuka proved there is plenty of life in Formula One yet as the two young chargers raced rings around the former champion
Michael Schumacher leaving Ferrari content to merely secure third place in the championship.
BAR Honda also proved a disappointment on home soil after
Jenson Button failed to turn his second place grid spot into anything better than a fifth-place finish with Takuma Sato excluded from the race completely. The Japanese driver, who has been subject of numerous complaints this season, will have a cloud hanging over him when he meets his fellow drivers again in Shanghai next week.
But the stars will be out at the front of the grid and McLaren Mercedes and Renault, Raikkonen and Alonso, are ready to go head-to-head in a one-race shoot-out to secure the constructors' title and that vital victory.
E.A. Source AFP
