Sao Paulo: Jenson Button took his third race win of the season as Sebastian Vettel secured his third consecutive drivers title at the Brazilian Grand Prix under challenging slippery conditions. Vettel overcame a horrendous start, where he endured a lap 1 accident which pushed him to back of the grid, to finish a superb sixth and become only third driver in F1 history to won three consecutive drivers title.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso needed a miracle of sorts to pip Vettel to the title and it almost happened but for a great drive by Vettel he had to content with runners-up finish. Ferrari had a fantastic season-end with both the drivers on the podium as Felipe Massa was third, followed by Mark Webber ahead of Sahara Force India's Nico Hulkenberg.
The race also marked the second retirement for seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who finished seventh after qualifying in 14th place. Behind Schumacher was Jean-Eric Vergne, Kamui Kobayashi and Kimi Raikkonen, who finished third in drivers standing with 207 points.
It was great a chance for Hulkenberg to end his association with Sahara Force India with a podium finish but his over ambitious overtaking move in lap 49 not only ended Hamilton's race but also got him a drive-through penalty, which cost him four places. The young German had snatched lead from Hamilton in as early as lap 19 in the 71-lap race.
Vettel and Alonso were locked in a tense title battle with the German in fifth position right at the back of the Spaniard. Some debris on the track resulted Nico Rosberg suffering a puncture and it brought Safety Car into the race. Hulkenberg straight away went to the pit lane and held his lead from Button, who too went to pits at the same time.
However, it erased Hulkenberg and Button's huge 47-second lead from the rest of the field. However, disaster was waiting for Hamilton as Hulkenberg tried to pass him at turn one in lap 54 but lost control, slid, hit him and broke Hamilton's front suspension, ending the Briton's race.
It pushed Alonso to third with Vettel at seventh at time and Button was leading the race. The rain started to lash the circuit and it became quite a challenge to drive under wet conditions. Hulkenberg was handed a drive through penalty for colliding Hamilton's McLaren and with that he dropped to fifth.
Alonso moved to second and maintained that position as Paul di Resta's accident in lap 70 brought Safety Car for the second time in the race and the cars finished in the same position.
With inputs from PTI
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