What a race, what a year

What a race. I have the fullest respect for any driver who got to the end of those 71 laps of chaos at Interlagos, and many who didn't.

Hulkenberg's penalty was tough in such track conditions although he had clearly wiped out Hamilton while losing control of his car. The stewards, I believe, treat the first lap differently in the general chaos and didn't choose to take a look at Vettel's contact with Senna who was similarly wiped out. As Vettel was also under control and on the racing line, it would have been deemed a racing incident. Vettel's difficult afternoon endured. He was caught napping on the safety car restart which had been deployed because there was carbon fibre spread all around the track like confetti. His radio failed and so although he could hear the team they couldn't hear him. He went for a new set of slicks just before he needed intermediates. On arrival for those inters his unannounced stop meant they were still in blankets. And yet he still remained in championship-winning position providing he stayed on track and nothing happened to Button who was now leading from Fernando Relentless. Paul di Resta lost his Force India in standing water on those apparently easy but ultimately treacherous gentle left kinks heading up to the startline. In the rain it's so scary through there you can take a bite out of your seat... The resulting safety car neutralised the end of the race and everybody's race positions were crystallised. Vettel was champion, Button the race winner, and Caterham would crucially take the lucrative 10th place off Marussia, passing the baton on financial pressure. We can forgive Felipe Massa 'crying like a baby' as he put it on the podium. His emotions would flood back from 2008 here when he was World Champion for a few seconds in his own back yard. He's had a largely awful season but is now surely on his consistently best form since the clout to his head back in 2009. He helped Ferrari ace McLaren - who, like Red Bull, won seven races - for second in the Constructors' Championship, thereby partly easing the pain for many at Ferrari. Comedy moment of the race was Kimi Raikkonen who ran wide into Juncao, the treacherous left hander before climbing the hill. He had done this back in 2001 and knew the old Interlagos track offered a route back onto the racetrack. Except this time it was firmly gated. His 180 degree U-turn in a confined space under pressure was worthy of Strictly Come Dancing, although another time he might take the Tarmac road back to civilisation rather than charging across the grass. After his many adventures he cruised over the line in 10th place. He has been truly impressive in his comeback year. My driver of the year is Fernando Alonso, the man who scored most podiums - thirteen - without the benefit of the fastest car. His sheer grit and determination along with sublime car control meant that the racer in me wanted him to steal the championship. Instead, at just 25 years and 124 days of age, Sebastian Vettel's majestic skills and mature head ensured that he became the youngest triple World Champion in Formula One history. He has the potential to smash even Schumacher's achievements and many men of a certain age like me will reflect on how much they had achieved before 26. Don't try to tell me that he's not the real deal or that he's not yet a great driver. Jenson Button won the first and last race of the season and looks very ready to lead McLaren forward. If he can deliver more consistently there's another championship in him yet. Regulation consistency means that 2013 should bring us more of the same. I've thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Sky Sports F1 team this year and can't wait for the new season. We look forward to your company to share all the thrills and spills. MB