Four Racers in Contention for Formula One Championship

Topics:  Topics:  Formula 1, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber

<VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
November 12, 2010 at 5:10 pm

The winner of the 2010 Formula One auto racing championship will be determined at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

For the first time in history, four drivers are competing for the crown in the final race.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari is in prime position to claim the title with 246 points, but the Red Bull racers are close behind with Australian Mark Webber’s 238 points and German Sebastian Vettel’s 231 points.

Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren holds an outside chance of winning it all with 222 points.

A victory is worth 25 points, while second place is good for 18. Alonso can guarantee himself the championship by finishing in the top two.

In the case of a tie, the competitor with more race titles this season would claim the championship.

Hamilton edged out Vettel in the second practice session Friday in Abu Dhabi.

His time was about one quarter of a second faster than his German opponent.

Alonso finished the session in third and Webber followed in fourth place.

The day-night race will run over 55 laps of the 5.554-kilometer circuit at the Yas Marina track that debuted in October 2009.

Some information in this story was provided by AP and AFP.