Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

A championship decided by one pit call

Four drivers arrived in Abu Dhabi with a shot at the title: Alonso on 246, Webber on 238, Vettel on 231, and Hamilton on 222. Alonso needed only fourth. His race engineer told him as much on the radio. And then Ferrari made the call that cost them everything. When Rosberg and Kubica pitted early, triggering a wave of stops, Ferrari brought Alonso in and he came out behind Petrov's Renault. On a track where overtaking was nearly impossible, Alonso spent 30 laps staring at Petrov's rear wing. Couldn't get past. Vitaly Petrov, in his rookie season, inadvertently decided the world championship. Meanwhile Vettel, who needed to win and hope for chaos, drove a flawless race from pole. Hamilton finished second but it wasn't enough. The final standings: Vettel 256, Alonso 252, Webber 242, Hamilton 240. Four points between the champion and the runner-up. The tragedy is that Alonso drove a near-perfect season. Ferrari's strategy department lost him the championship, not his driving. Yas Marina isn't the most inspiring circuit, but on this day the stakes elevated everything.