Fernando Alonso put his championship campaign right back on track in China, while Mark Webber's spectacular woes continued. Ferrari's Spaniard Alonso won a tyre and strategy-dominated Shanghai race, having retired from the Malaysian grand prix three weeks ago.
He is now just 9 points behind title leader Sebastian Vettel, while Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton are also within a 12-point cluster separating the drivers' standings' top four. "At moment I think Ferrari, Red Bull, Lotus and Mercedes are similar," said Alonso on Sunday. "It's very close to call and a very open championship."
In total contrast, and with the 'Multi-21' misery still in memory, Mark Webber's woes deepened in China. After running out of fuel and being disqualified on Saturday, the Australian crashed into Red Bull stablemate Jean-Eric Vergne during the race, earning him a three-place grid penalty for Bahrain in a week. His race ended when his wheel fell off. "This is one of the worst weekends he's ever had," pundit Eddie Jordan told British television BBC.
More generally, while this year's races are undoubtedly action packed, outspoken purist Jacques Villeneuve admitted on Sunday "I don't like modern formula one". "There was no action," said the 1997 world champion, joining the chorus of criticism of the heavily-degrading tyre-induced strategic racing. "Lot of overtaking but no action," Villeneuve explained. "Lot of drivers minding their own pace."
F1's fast-paced calendar moves on to Bahrain next week. "The celebrations tonight will be nothing special as I have an early flight for Bahrain," Alonso said on Sunday. "I'll have some dinner and the guys will probably party more than me." (GMM)
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Alonso puts his title campaign back on track with win in China
- Published on 15 Apr 2013 08:33
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
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Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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World Championship standings 2026
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
-
Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 629
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 201
- Country Spain
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
- Place of b. Oviedo, Spain
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 187,890 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Team profile
- Team name Lotus F1
- Base Enstone, United Kingdom
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Romain Grosjean 10
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 65,124 comments on Lotus F1
- 17 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Lotus F1
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