Singapore GP: Alonso Holds Off Charging Vettel

Fernando Alonso held off a charging Sebastian Vettel to take his second Singapore GP victory while Lewis Hamilton was the only title contender not to score

The title five of Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton, Jenson Button and Mark Webber led off the start line. Webber was the first of those to pit, coming in on lap 4 after the Safety Car was deployed to clear Tonio Liuzzi's stricken car. That move dropped him to P11, however, it wasn't long before he was working his way back up the order.

But as the race progressed it soon looked as if Singapore was in a for a two-horse race as Alonso and Vettel pulled away from the chasing McLarens and Webber discovered it's not that easy to overtake on a street circuit - especially as his harder option tyres could not match the pace of the softer rubber.

Hamilton, losing three second a lap to the leaders, pitted on lap 29 but his tardy pace meant he lost ground to Webber, falling behind the Aussie. Alonso and Vettel then pitted from first and second and emerged first and sector while Button, who came in a lap later, came out behind Hamilton.

The immediate aftermath of the pit stops saw Vettel close right up on Alonso but his charge was halted when Kamui Kobayashi crashed into the barriers and Bruno Senna hit the stricken Sauber, bringing out the Safety Car. With the race back in action on lap 36, it took only one lap before Hamilton tried a move on Webber. The Aussie had the line but Hamilton was ahead and they touched. Broken suspension for Hamilton and it was game over.

Back at the front, Alonso held off a charging Vettel as the Red Bull racer closed up only to lose ground the next lap and so it, even exchanging fastest sector times between the two, much as they did in the final moments of qualifying. And although it appeared as if a Safety Car would come out for the final lap after Heikki Kovalainen's car caught fire, it was left to the two to race it out. And they did in style with Vettel on Alonso's tail as they fought through backmarkers. But it wasn't enough to help Vettel take the win.

25 points to Alonso, 18 to Vettel, 15 to Webber and 12 to Button. None for Hamilton.

Results:
01. Alonso Ferrari 1h57:53.579
02. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 0.293
03. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 29.141
04. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 30.384
05. Rosberg Mercedes + 49.394
06. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 56.101
07. Kubica Renault + 1:26.559
08. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 1:52.416
09. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth + 1:52.791
10. Massa Ferrari + 1:53.297
11. Petrov Renault + 1 lap
12. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap
13. Schumacher Mercedes + 1 lap
14. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap
15. Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth + 2 laps
16. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth + 3 laps

Did Not Finish
Glock Virgin-Cosworth 51
Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 35
Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 34
Klien HRT-Cosworth 30
Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 29
Senna HRT-Cosworth 28
Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 26
Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1

Source: Planet-F1