2010
Vettel vs Alonso vs Webber
The Three-Way Finale
The Story
The 2010 season was the first under the new points system and produced a four-way title fight heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi. Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, and Mark Webber all had a mathematical chance, with Alonso leading by eight points. The Spaniard needed only a safe fourth-place finish, but a strategic miscalculation saw Ferrari leave him out too long, and he got stuck behind Vitaly Petrov's Renault, unable to pass. Meanwhile, Vettel drove a flawless race from pole to win, leapfrogging both rivals to become the youngest World Champion in history at 23 years old. Alonso's fury on team radio became one of the season's defining moments.
Points Progression
| Race | Vettel | Alonso | Webber | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain GP | 12 | 25 | 4 | Alonso +13 |
| Australian GP | 12 | 37 | 6 | Alonso +25 |
| Malaysian GP | 37 | 37 | 24 | Vettel +0 |
| Chinese GP | 45 | 49 | 28 | Alonso +4 |
| Spanish GP | 60 | 67 | 53 | Alonso +7 |
Final Standings
| Pos | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | 5 | 256 |
| 2 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 5 | 252 |
| 3 | Mark Webber | Red Bull | 4 | 242 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren | 3 | 240 |
| 5 | Jenson Button | McLaren | 2 | 214 |
| 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 0 | 144 |
| 7 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 0 | 142 |
| 8 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 0 | 136 |
| 9 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 0 | 72 |
| 10 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams | 0 | 47 |