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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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World Championship standings 2023

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
224
2
Aston Martin
102
3
Mercedes
96
4
Ferrari
78
5
McLaren
14
6
Alpine F1
14
7
Haas F1
8
8
Alfa Romeo Racing
6
9
Alpha Tauri
2
10
Williams
1
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia
Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco
Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria
Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy
Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

DE Sebastian Vettel 5
Sebastian Vettel
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 1,480
  • Podiums 56
  • Grand Prix 161
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (35)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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Ferrari
Ferrari
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