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Bernie Ecclestone happy F1 to get 2012 title showdown

Bernie Ecclestone happy F1 to get 2012 title showdown

  • Published on 20 Nov 2012 15:52
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he is happy the 2012 world championship will be decided only at this weekend's twentieth and last race of the season in Brazil. As Christian Horner was speaking to the media in Austin, where Sebastian Vettel failed to wrap up the title despite being mathematically able, the F1 chief executive walked past and said jokingly to the Red Bull boss: "Thank you very much. Very kind," he smiled. "Very well planned." Horner told journalists: "As you can see, everything pre-arranged."

Actually, Ecclestone is a close friend of German Vettel, and he told the SID news agency that he will deserve his third title. As for a one-race championship showdown, however: "That's what every fan wishes for. And me too," said the 82-year-old Briton. But asked who he would bet on at Interlagos, Ecclestone answered: "I think Sebastian." As for how much money the billionaire would wager, he said: "As much as you want."

When asked who deserves the title the most, Ecclestone answered: "The one who has more points at the end, so maybe Sebastian is a bit more deserving because of what he has done. But most of the time Fernando (Alonso) has not had the best car, so I think he deserves it too."

Even the Ferrari-slanted Italian press agrees with Ecclestone that Vettel is the overwhelming favourite. "The championship is still open," noted La Gazzetta dello Sport, "but, better said, it is not closed completely." The sports daily said Vettel and Red Bull are beatable, "but at the moment not by Alonso or Ferrari."

F1 legend Niki Lauda told RTL television that Vettel's 13-point advantage over Spaniard Alonso is "a lot for one race". Another former driver Marc Surer told Sky television: "We can assume that Vettel will drive it home in Brazil. His car failing is the only danger."

Alonso is pinning his hopes on the latter eventuality. "They (Red Bull) have often had problems with their cooling or their brakes or their KERS or their alternator," said the Ferrari driver. "It always happens to that car (Mark Webber's), so maybe in Brazil it changes cars." (GMM)
F1 News Sebastian Vettel Ferrari

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Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
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United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Brazil Interlagos
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United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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Qatar Losail International Circuit
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United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

DE Sebastian Vettel 5
Sebastian Vettel
  • Country Germany
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (36)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, Germany
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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Ferrari
Ferrari
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