• Korean Grand Prix

Alonso takes control of Championship after dramatic win

ESPNF1 Staff
October 24, 2010
The weather provided a stern test for Fernando Alonso © Getty Images
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Fernando Alonso won a dramatic if protracted Korean Grand Prix to blow the title race wide open as Mark Webber crashed into retirement and Sebastian Vettel's engine blew with a handful of laps remaining.

Lewis Hamilton made the most of Red Bull's misfortune to boost his title hopes with a second place finish ahead of Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher. It means that Alonso now leads the drivers' standings from Webber and Hamilton with Vettel dropping to fourth.

With the start delayed by over an hour due to rain, racing proper finally got underway on a slippery Yeongam circuit and Nico Rosberg was the big early mover passing Lewis Hamilton and up to fourth. But joy soon turned to despair for both Rosberg and Webber on lap 19, the Mercedes unable to avoid the championship leader's Red Bull after he spun into the wall on the exit to turn 12 and back across the track.

Several more safety car incidents followed as others slithered off the circuit but Vettel remained in command at the front and on course to take the maximum points and control of the championship until his engine gave way in spectacular fashion.

But Jenson Button's hopes are now over after he could only manage to finish 12th.

A full report follows shorty

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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