SUZUKA – Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday and blew the Formula One championship wide open with five races remaining, after Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso spun out at the start.
Report by Reuters
Alonso’s lead over reigning champion Vettel, chalking up his second win in a row and third of the season, was cut to four points from 29.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa came second, 20,6secs behind Vettel, for the Brazilian’s first podium finish since October 2010 with Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi delighting his home crowd with third place for Sauber.
Lewis Hamilton recovered to finish in fifth place ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, as they both just about kept their championship hopes alive.
The victory was Vettel’s third from pole in Suzuka in the past four years and he also set the fastest lap.
