F1: Top 10 Moments from the 2010’s

As we wave goodbye to the 2010’s and hello to the roaring 20’s, it’s only fitting we look back on the moments that defined the past decade in which only three drivers from two teams actually won a world title.

The failed plights of Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button, would seemingly mirror the misfortunes and missed opportunities of Valterri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Hulkenberg in the second. A decade that saw the introduction of the hybrid era and the sale of F1 from Bernie Ecclestone to Liberty Media.

In the final edition of Motorsport Radio’s “Moments of the Decade” series, Connor Jackson reviews the on-track moments that were cemented in our memories.

10.  Petrov denies Alonso/Webber Title – Abu Dhabi 2010

We’ll start this list at the start of the decade. At the end of what proved to be one of the closest championship fights of the 2000’s. Going into the race, Fernando Alonso led the standings with 246 points to Mark Webbers 238. Webber’s teammate Sebastian Vettel sat on 231 with Hamilton JUST in range with 222.

For Lewis, he would need a miracle as both he and Vettel knew a win was crucial to claiming the title. For Vettel, this was easier. Starting on pole, he raced away, as Alonso and Webber qualified further down. As a result of their positioning, the two main challengers pitted early, attempting to fend each other off.

Their biggest rival proved not to be each other, but rather Vitaly Petrov. The Russian had likewise pitted early and the Renault’s fast speed on the straights proved impossible for either Alonso or Webber to pass. It allowed leader Vettel to sweep to his maiden title. Forever changing the direction of F1.

9. Maldonado’s First (and Williams last) Win – Spain 2012

Pirelli entered the sport in 2011 under the instruction to make racing exciting. Fast degrading tyres were the solution (with Paul Hembrey quoting Canada 2010 for his inspiration) and as a result, after a bumpy 2011, further changes came in 2012. Seven drivers won the first seven races, with one of those being Pastor Maldonado in the Williams.

Hamilton had been on pole, but was excluded from the result, allowing the Venzuelan to lead the field away. While Alonso led the first half of the race, the Spaniard got stuck behind Charles Pic during the second round of stops, allowing the Williams to perform the undercut. It was Williams first win since 2004 and made Maldonado a home hero overnight. His result was slightly overshadowed by the pit lane fire that followed the race in which either fuel or KERS on Bruno Senna’s Williams set the garage on fire. The team would use equipment lent to them from the other teams for Monaco.

8.  Pirelli Tyre Explosions – Britain 2013

Tyres are an essential part of any car and it’s no surprise to say Pirelli’s introduction to the sport have created a number of memorable and questionable moments. While the press have never been 100% behind the Italian manufacturer, it’s worth remembering that most were generally pleased with them going into 2013. Long past were the Michelin vs Bridgestone tyre wars.

Problems though had been building, and at the 2013 British Grand Prix Pirelli would “cross the line” as six drivers suffered tyre failures. No longer were they the radical compound with fast degradation. Now they were dangerous to drive on.

Race leader Hamilton was the first to blow on lap 7, with Massa and Vergne following in quick succession, resulting in a safety car. Meanwhile Sergio Perez’s tyre exploded as Alonso was in his slipstream on Hangar Straight. The kerbs would be blamed initially, but Pirelli’s reputation would be notably scarred.

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7. Rosberg and Hamilton’s Double DNF – Spain 2016

2016 was a dramatic season for a number of reasons and I could have legitimately included an array of Rosberg / Hamilton incidents, but for many this one stood out as the defining moment in their relationship.

During the height of Mercedes dominance both knew every position would count. Rosberg led through the first corner at Barcelona but Hamilton, not wanting to give up his pole, made a lunge into Repsol. Rosberg edged him onto the grass, Hamilton lost control, the two collided and rest is history.

Speaking of history, Max Verstappen became the youngest ever grand prix winner as a result, as he battled off the Ferrari’s and Ricciardo. A dream debut in the Red Bull.

6. Williams Lead Mercedes – Britain 2015

Williams, albeit breif, resurgence in form at the start of the hybrid era gave a much needed lease of life to Felipe Massa’s career and rose Valtteri Bottas to notoriety. This relationship proved promising for those involved and throughout 2014, Massa surprised everyone with pole position at Austria.

12 months later and Massa was back on the podium in Austria before the teams headed to Silverstone. Both drivers started on the second row, but as Hamilton and Rosberg bogged down, Massa took the lead. Bottas would move up to second on the restart after Hamilton got too aggressive with Massa. A rivalry the Brazilian was yet to forget.

Rain kept Williams in contention for the win, but Hamilton and Mercedes proved to be too powerful, sailing past in the final pitstops with the Williams pair completing a historic podium. A real advert for British motorsport as a number of crashes and incidents behind kept entertainment high throughout.

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5. Vettel Crashes from the Lead – Germany 2018

Since joining Ferrari, Vettel made it very clear that his aim was to beat the Mercedes and cement his fifth world championship. After an aborted attempt in 2017, 2018 seemed to be going his way and heading into his home race, he had the points lead. Life got better for the German when Hamilton’s hydraulic’s failed in qualifying ensuring he started 14th with Vettel on pole.

The race should have been simple. Lead from pole and extend the gap to Hamilton. Instead, rain started to fall on lap 44, with Vettel running wide at the Sachs Curve on lap 52, hitting the barrier. A delayed pitstop for Bottas left him behind Hamilton, who had aborted his pitstop after entering the pitlane.

Hamilton would take victory and to further rub salt into Vettel’s wounds, would not recieve a penalty after the Brit had run over the grass to avoid entering the pitlane, an incident Kimi Raikkonen had been penalised for in 2006. Hamilton and Mercedes left Germany as the new championship leaders, a position they’d never look back from. Ferrari’s hunt continues.

4. Reversed Fortunes – Germany 2019

Regarded by many as the best race of the year. Hockenheim and rain has a way with throwing up chaos. Hamilton started on pole and as the heavens opened, all eyes turned to the rainmaster to deliver. It turned out to be an opposite of 12 months prior as Vettel, starting 20th finished second (despite a lowkey race) while Hamilton spun from the lead at the infamous SudKurve that claimed multiple victims.

Hamilton would limp into the pitlane, the wrong side of the bollard and unlike 12 months prior had to serve a 5 second penalty that severely hampered him after the final stop for dry tyres as he not only waited longer, but had to stay out an extra lap as teammate Valterri Bottas got first choice of pits during a safety car period. Bottas though would end up as one of six retirements.

Instead, it was Max Verstappen who remained (almost) clean to take another victory and seriously challenge Hamilton’s wet weather crown. Vettel used his late speed to jump from eighth to second as Daniil Kvyat scored a poignant podium for the Russian after an early gamble for dry tyres.

3. Webber and Vettel – Turkey 2010

Teammates have one of the hardest factors to manage for any team manager who chooses to let them race. Toto Wolff knows this, but before him, Christian Horner was forced to decide the fate of their drivers after a collision on the back straight during the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix.

Horner hinted Webber was partially at fault, with Marko not doing much to defend the Australian either. Webber finished the race third and maintained the points lead as Vettel retired. Both were passed by the McLaren’s of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, the former of which went on to win the race.

Red Bull would hold a meeting at their factory four days later in which the matter was considered resolved, however, the rivalry between the Bullish pair had only just begun.

2. Vettel Spins – Brazil 2012

When looking at Vettel’s four championship’s it’s easy to surmise that the German was unchallenged for all of them. While that is certainly not true of 2010 in which he was the underdog, many forget that he also failed to lead most of the 2012 season, remaining behind Alonso until the Korean Grand Prix. After qualifying, Vettel was on the second row, while Alonso was in seventh.

Surely all Vettel had to do to preserve his 13 point lead was to finish, with Alonso so far off. The racing God’s would have one final twist though as Vettel made a poor start, colliding with Bruno Senna and spinning with Alonso up to fifth. The German had sustained damage and it required quick thinking of Adrian Newey to change the engine mapping to avoid the exhaust from overheating after spotting a crease in the bodywork.

Alonso finished second but it was the recovery drive from Vettel that saw him jump back to sixth that would surprise the field, just nine seconds behind race winner Button, in what would be his last ever victory.

Honorable Mentions

In my attempt, I only mentioned single incidents between any two drivers. For that reason, the Rosberg and Hamilton rivarly could easily have thrown up their epic duel in Bahrain 2014, the Spa-Francorchamps collision later that year or the 2014 and 2016 season finales at Abu Dhabi resulting in frustration from each member respectively. Webber and Vettel’s Multi 21 incident is of note while any number of Sebastian Vettel’s spins/clashes with Hamilton could have made the list, but I chose one memory for each.

It goes without saying that we will all remember Jules Bianchi after the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, but in a celebration of the sport, such incident is best left unmentioned, as is Leclerc’s maiden win at Spa on the back on Hubert’s passing. There have been plenty of strong races with no single major talking points and one-off incidents in an otherwise boring parade. So I hope this list has found a suitable middle ground.

With that being said…

1. Jenson’s Rollercoaster – Canada 2011

Of course, it had to be!

Five pitstops, racing in every position, hitting your teammate and passing Vettel on the last lap. Jenson Button’s name will be forever etched into the side of Formula One folklore after the longest race in the sports history.

Rain ensured the race started under safety car, as contact for Button with teammate Hamilton brought out another SC. The race was suspended on lap 26 as the rain lashed down, restarting after two hours. Button’s bad luck continued on lap 37 as he knocked Alonso out of the race, dropping the Brit to last.

Then came the heroic’s. As the track dried up Button switched to dry tyres, scything his way past backmarkers and by the final stages (after another safety car for Nick Heidfeld) was catching the squabbling Webber and Schumacher. By lap 64 Button was released and closing in on Vettel.

Going into the 70th and final lap, Vettel held a 0.9 second advantage, now feeling the pressure of a unstoppable Jenson. He cracked, half spinning at turn 6 and losing enough time for Button to sneak past. The Red Bulls completed the podium, but it was McLaren who stood victorious atop.

Speaking in the press conference after the race, Button said;

“I enjoyed it very much coming through the field, [it] is almost as good as winning the race. That feeling of getting one up on someone. A great race for people who are sat here, to be on the podium is a pretty exceptional result and to fight my way through from last position… It is definitely my best race.” – Jenson Button