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There was a shock for racing fans at a heated Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka this Sunday. It potentially sees the 2012 season being more wide open than previously thought.

It looked as if Fernando Alonso had the title done and dusted. It would take an unexpected retirement, and a decisive win from a former champion, to suddenly make the season all to play for.

One of the main talking points of the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix took place at the very beginning. It saw the championship’s leader, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, suffer a blow out on the first lap and have to retire. This was after colliding with Kimi Raikkonen, driving with Lotus. It left the way clear for the Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel to tear out in front. It marked the third time Vettel has won in Japan, the last two occasions being in 2009 and 2010. The victory ties the German with the great Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio, when it comes to the number of wins in a career. It is a victory which leaves him only four points behind Alonso on the leader board, with five races left of the season. It also now makes him the bookies tip to reclaim the championship.

Felipe Massa with Ferrari finished in second place, while home grown hero Kamui Kobayashi with Sauber was third.

However, in a race of heroes, one driver got himself in trouble once again. Romain Grosjean, following the incident in Spa, was involved in a collision with Mark Webber, incurring the Australian’s wrath.