TheChequeredFlag

After the opening round bore of Bahrain, critics were left with plenty of ammunition to berate the F1 circus. 17 races on, though, five different winners have graced the top of the podium, and there are four championship contenders left to fight for the prestigious title of driver’s world champion with only one race to go.

The critics have gone quiet all of a sudden. Strange that.

This afternoon’s enthralling Brazilian Grand Prix is just one of several examples this year as to why F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. It also shows that rain isn’t always the key ingredient to eventful racing, with overtaking from Sebastian Vettel at the front to home favourite Felipe Massa having an afternoon of ‘get out of my way!’ syndrome in the midfield.

It was another 1-2 for Red Bull as Vettel led home Mark Webber, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso claiming third. McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button secured fourth and fifth. In the overall standings, Alonso now leads Webber by eight points, with Vettel a further seven points behind. Hamilton’s championship hopes hang by a thread with a 24 point gap to make up, whilst 2009 champion Jenson Button is now out of the championship hunt.

Vettel drove the perfect race, as he held off team-mate Webber when being chased, calmly passed the snake of traffic when lapping, and put in the hot laps when required. The young German has been inundated with questions about Webber’s claims of favourtism towards him all weekend, but he kept his head down and thoroughly deserved his victory.

Whilst he admits the difficulty of surpassing Alonso and Webber, the 23-year-old has not given up on a maiden championship just yet. He said post-race: “In my case, it is pretty straightforward – all I can do is optimise my result, ideally repeat the result we achieved today and then it depends where those two guys are.”

Team boss Christian Horner has rejected talk of switching allegiance to Webber for the final race at the stunning Abu Dhabi circuit and insists both drivers are free to fight for the title.

“The drivers drive for the team, they’ve received tremendous support this year, it would have been wrong to switch [their positions] today, we’ve backed them equally all year and it would have been wrong to artificially take one of them out of the championship,’ he claimed.

All the focus seems to be on the battle between the Red Bull drivers, let’s not forget that there is a very good Spaniard at the top of the standings, and is firmly in the driving seat.

The two-time world champion can finish second and win the title even if Webber wins, or finish fourth if Vettel takes the chequered flag next weekend.

Meanwhile, one championship was sealed today: The constructors’ championship. The 1-2 today secured the title for the Milton Keynes squad.

So, the scene is beautifully set for the season climax in Abu Dhabi. The luxurious city in the UAE is the perfect host for the best show on earth to reach its dramatic full stop for another year, with stunning and diverse architecture in every direction. Also, is there a more stunning sight during the season when the cars pass underneath the breathtaking Yas Hotel with its Grid Shell fully lit? With its beaming colours continuously interchanging once the sizzling sun has set over the city; I very much doubt it.

Four drivers, one city, one track, one outcome. Only one question left to answer.