SPORTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 Points record gives Alonso something to celebrate SUZUKA: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso took more com- than seven times world champion Michael remember the points (systems). They will only cele- 2001. Alonso had little to crow about after Sunday’s fort in knocking Michael Schumacher off his perch as Schumacher managed to accumulate. brate they are first in history. “So it’s my time to cele- race, with Ferrari again outpaced by the Red Bulls Formula One’s all-time top points scorer yesterday The record may be scorned by the sport’s histori- brate, my time to enjoy hopefully for many years,” and the Lotus of Frenchman Romain Grosjean. than in keeping the championship mathematically ans, given the change in scoring systems over the said Alonso. Formula One awarded eight points for a In his mind, the title has already been won by open for two more weeks. years and far greater number of races in a season, but win in the early days with only the top five scoring. Vettel and the battle now is to keep Ferrari in second The Spaniard’s fourth place in the Japanese Grand Alonso was not about to overlook the chance to be From 1991, the winner collected 10 points and in place and ahead of Mercedes and Lotus. Prix meant Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, winner for the happy about something. “Today they told me I have 2010 that was increased to 25 with the top 10 finish- “I was always behind someone but the top three fifth race in a row and now 90 points clear with four the record for the most amount of points in F1 histo- ers all scoring. Schumacher won 91 races in a career were always too strong for us. Even without the traf- rounds left, would have to wait until India on Oct. 27 ry, so it’s a happy day - the leading points scorer in F1 running from 1991 to 2012, with a break from the fic, I think the podium was already decided,” said to celebrate his fourth successive title. The result also is something great,” he told reporters. “In six years end of 2006 to 2010, while double world champion Alonso. “Even if Sebastian retires in all four races I lifted Alonso’s career points tally to 1,571 five more time when someone will overtake me, no-one will Alonso has 32 career wins since he made his debut in need to win them all.” — Reuters Vettel grabs Japan GP SUZUKA: Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday but was made to wait for his fourth successive Formula One title after Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso finished fourth. The 26-year-old German’s fourth win at Suzuka in the last five years left him with a lead of 90 points over Alonso with four races, and a maximum 100 points, remaining. The next up is India on Oct. 27. Vettel’s Australian team mate Mark Webber, who had started on pole position, finished 7.1 seconds behind in a Red Bull one- two with Frenchman Romain Grosjean taking third place for Lotus on a sunny afternoon at the Honda-owned track. “Ichiban (first), Ichiban,” Vettel shouted in Japanese over the team radio, whooping in delight after taking the chequered flag at the ZARAGOZA: Spanish matador El Cordobes is gored by a bull during a bullfight at La end of a race that hinged on his ability to do two Misericordia bullring during El Pilar Feria in Zaragoza. — AFP stops to Webber’s three. “Great job, thanks a lot for bringing the car back, unbelievable. You’re the best team in the world. Thank you very much Int’l Open football boys, I love you.” It was Vettel’s fifth win in a row, ninth in 15 tournament to kick off races this season and 35th of his career. Asked on the podium about the championship, with the during Eid holidays passionate crowd roaring in approval, he added: “Obviously we have a very good gap but we still KUWAIT: After conducting the Int’l Open 24 Teams will be participating in this presti- keep pushing... it looks very good at this stage football tournament successfully for the gious Tournament and a stiff competition is but it’s not over until its over.” last two years, Real Betalbatim Football awaited between Dubai & Kuwait Teams. Alonso, who became Formula One’s leading Club is all geared up once again for the 3rd Teams vying for the glittering Trophy all-time points scorer, had no illusions about his edition, scheduled on Oct 16, 2013 during and valuable prizes this year will include chances. “Even if Vettel doesn’t finish all of the the Eid Holidays (Ground to intimated via the Champions of last year Siolim United, races I need to win nearly all (of them), so it’s a Facebook). strong contenders Aldona United and new matter of time,” said the Spaniard. The Tournament is organized in fond outfits Emirates Goan (EGSCC) and FC Webber always knew he was going to have a memory of Late Sheikha Huda Bader Bardez from Dubai and around 20 battle on his hands with his team mate but it was Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and is a renowned Teams from Kuwait namely Grosjean who seized the lead with a storming much awaited feature in the expatriate Santos United, AVC Goa Maroons, Real start from fourth while both Red Bull drivers were football circuits in Kuwait & GCC. Betalbatim, Don Bosco, DHL FC, Veterans slow to react. Vettel made contact with Lewis Last year a total of 24 teams participated United, United Friends, Fahaheel Brothers Hamilton’s Mercedes, with the Briton first suffer- in the football extravaganza and once and Kuwait Goans Association (KGA) ing a puncture that sent him to the back of the again it was a Dubai based Team, Siolim among other teams. field and then retiring. United who took flight with the prestigious Real Betalbatim FC looks forward to “The floor was destroyed... I was a second and trophy to the United Arab Emirates to add your presence as a large holiday crowd is a half to two seconds off the pace and the car to their collection. expected to witness this tournament. To was pulling to the right. It’s a good job they Among others who shone during the add spice to the tournament two exhibi- pulled me in,” said the 2008 world champion. tournament were Vanxim Divar and Aldona tion matches will be held for the first time The Red Bull emerged unscathed, with the United from Dubai & Goa Maroons and in the history of Kuwait, one for the Ladies team reassuring a concerned Vettel, and the Veterans United from Kuwait. This year also and other for Children (Boys). German settled into third place at the end of the opening lap. “A horrible start and then a fantastic comeback,” declared the beaming Vettel, who took the lead for the first time on lap 13 after Grosjean and Webber had pitted. The lead changed between the three over the race according to pitstops with Webber making his final stop 11 laps before the finish. SUZUKA: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds up the trophy to celebrate his vic- The Australian had hoped to claw back the tory during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix. — AFP deficit but could not get past Grosjean until the penultimate lap, by which time Vettel was nine switched from two to three. Esteban Gutierrez became the first rookie driver seconds clear and out of reach. “Unfortunately we lost too much time at the to score a point this season with seventh place “Mark was going through the tyres a bit quick- end there behind Grosjean for him to have a for Sauber. Nico Rosberg put some points on the er and getting into trouble earlier,” said Red Bull crack at Sebastian but he (Vettel) just made the board for Mercedes, who slipped further behind principal Christian Horner. “It made a huge tyres last extremely well.” Ferrari in third place in the championship, with amount of pressure on the two-stop and would Kimi Raikkonen was fifth for Lotus with Nico Britain’s Jenson Button ninth for McLaren. have been very difficult to beat Grosjean so we Hulkenberg sixth in the Sauber. Sauber’s Mexican Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was 10th. — Reuters Cameroon goalkeeper foils Tunisia JOHANNESBURG: Former Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje made a string of superb saves to help Cameroon force a 0-0 World Cup Africa play-off draw in Tunisia yesterday. Given a second chance after Cape Verde were dis- qualified, the Tunisians attacked relentlessly in the ear- ly stages only to be foiled by the 30-year-old France- SEPANG: MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa of Spain lifts up his trophy on the podium born shot-stopper. after winning the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. — AP Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o, back after a short- lived retirement, was always a threat in the first leg of a Pedrosa bags tie offering a ticket to the 2014 finals in Brazil. The teams, who boast 10 World Cup appearances between them, clash again in the second leg in Yaounde on November 17 with the odds favouring the ‘Indomitable Lions’. Malaysia GP Tunisia flew out of the starting blocks with Amine Chermiti having a shot blocked by Itandje with just 10 MALAYSIA: Spain’s Dani Pedrosa won the Malaysian Grand Prix’.” seconds gone at Stade Olympique on the outskirts of Tunis.