Alonso dominates Japanese GP

F1 Grand Prix, GP Japan, Fuji Speedway

Fernando Alonso had all the cards on his hands and controlled the race simply, staying out of trouble and putting in a great pace. The title contenders ruined their chances for this race in the first corner. Kubica comes in second, just ahead of Raikkonen. Felipe Massa gets a single point.

The race kicked off with probably the most spectacular start of this year.

While Hamilton was on pole, Raikkonen immediately tok the lead up until the first corner. There, Hamilton took the inside of the corner but locked all wheels and pushed the Finn to the outside. Both men lost out seriously, dropping several places.

Meanwhile, Kubica and Alonso protited to take the lead of the race, clear of any problems. In the middle of the pack, Coulthard and Nakajima collide, immediately ending the Scot's race while Nakajima could continue, only to go to the pitlane for a new front wing.

Only one lap later, Hamilton, just behind Massa attempt to pass the Ferrari driver in the chicane. Massa slightly misss the apex on the entrance but then aggressively goes onto the kerbs on the inside of the left hander. Both cars touch and Hamilton spins off. As he was in a dangerous position on the track, there was no choice to let everyone by before going into the pitlane for new tyres.

5 laps in the race, the picking order is therefore as follows: Kubica leads the race, ahead of Alonso and Kovalainen. Trulli is fourth, followed by Bourdais, Massa, Piquet and Vettel just outside of the points.

Glock then enters the pitlane to abandon. It is not clear what exactly is wrong, but it is likely a mechanical problem.

In lap 6, Raikkonen passes by Trulli to move up to 4th place. Sutil is less fortunate as he stops his car at the end of the long straight with an apparent technical failure. His right rear tyre appeared disintigrated.

In lap 15, Rosberg passes Fisichella, not an easy job as the Force India is very fast on the straight, helped by the Ferrari engine. Fisichella's car did however take some damage as he laps around the track missing the tip of his nosecone.

Moments later, a drive through for Hamilton is announced as he is said to have 'forced a car off track' in the first corner after the start. Felipe Massa is then also handed the same penalty as he 'caused a collision' with Lewis Hamilton. Quite frankl, Hamilton's penalty was unnecesary as he was penalised enough already by the manouvre itself.

Kovalainen's race is consequently ended as he suffers an engine failure from 3rd position. It is remarkably the first failure of a Mercedes engine this year.

At the same time, Kubica and Raikkonen dive into the pitlane for their first stops, Alonso follows one lap later. This temporarily puts Trulli in the lead of the race, while Alonso managed to stay get ahead of Alonso thanks to a quick stop.

As Trulli stops, Bourdais is now in the lead, ahead of Piquet. Vettel, behind them stops just one lap later.

Fisichella then abanbons the race too as he is pulled into the pitbox. 5 men are already out of the race, after only 25 laps.

In lap 28, Piquet enters the pitlane for his first stop, returning the lead to his teammate, Alonso. Piquet rejoins the track just ahead of Bourdais to take 6th place.

In lap 35, Webber makes his first stop and is fitted with the softer tyre. He will go to the end with just this one stop.

By this time, the championship contenders are still fighting their way through the field. Massa is 12th and Hamilton 13th with 8 seperating behind them.

At the front, Alonso is looking incredibly strong, increasing his lead over Kubica by more almost half a second a lap. His lead is now up to 10 seconds. Raikkonen follows at 4 seconds behind the Pole.

Lap 42 marks another fastest lap for Alonso, increasing his lead to 12.3 seconds. Quickly after he in the pitlane for his final stop. He rejoins just behind Bourdais and hence is 6th.

Raikkonen then starts his chase to Kubica who is suffering from poor traction and understeer. The Pole does however stop 45, just as Kimi marks a fastest lap. He is low on fuel and pits a single lap later. After their stops, Raikkonen's deficit to Kubica is now down to a mere 2 seconds.

Felipe Massa meanwhile improves the fastest lap in 1:19.014.

In lap 52, Masa takes slightly too much risks in the first corner and cuts Bourdais' corner. The latter just left the pitlane. Massa spun but was able to rejoin his race without problems. He apears to mix fastest laps with slight mistakes, a repeat of what we have seen earlier this season.

By lap 54, Piquet has pitted and gained rejoined the track ahead of Trulli, again an excellent operation by the French pit team.

Kubica is also heavily fighting to fend off Raikkonen. The latter appears unleashed after a problematic season. The two must however take care not to take too many risks as Piquet is just 2 seconds behind and might get away with more than 4th place if they make an error.

4 laps from the end, Massa is pushing hard to close into Webber. While the tyres of the Red Bull are extremely worn, Massa is just 0.9s behind the Australian and looks set to get a points. He is consistently 1.5 seconds faster than Webber. One lap later it's done on the straight, even though Massa largely went over the white lines of the track and the pitlane exit.