Complete calendar with 19 races
The 2010 Formula 1 season delivered one of the most dramatic championship finales in the sport's history, as four drivers entered the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a mathematical chance of claiming the World Championship. Sebastian Vettel emerged victorious in extraordinary fashion, becoming the youngest World Champion at just 23 years and 134 days old, snatching the title from Fernando Alonso's grasp in the final race.
The championship battle was unpredictable from start to finish, with five different drivers - Alonso, Vettel, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton, and Jenson Button - leading the standings at various points throughout the season. Alonso held a slender advantage heading to Abu Dhabi with 246 points, followed by Webber on 238, Vettel on 231, and Hamilton mathematically still in contention on 222. The season's competitiveness reflected the close performance between the top teams, with Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren all capable of winning races.
Red Bull Racing proved to have the fastest car overall, with their RB6 designed by Adrian Newey claiming 15 pole positions and demonstrating exceptional qualifying pace. However, reliability issues and strategy errors prevented them from converting this speed advantage into consistent race victories. Vettel won five races during the season, while teammate Webber secured four victories, but internal team tensions occasionally complicated Red Bull's campaign, particularly after controversial team orders and the 'Multi 21' incident precursor moments.
The Abu Dhabi finale was decided by strategy rather than pure pace. Starting from pole position, Vettel controlled the race while Ferrari made a crucial tactical error that would haunt them. When Webber pitted early from second place, Ferrari panicked and brought Alonso in prematurely, dropping the Spaniard into traffic behind Vitaly Petrov's Renault. Despite having fresher tires and a faster car, Alonso was unable to pass the Russian driver, finishing seventh while Vettel crossed the line first to claim the championship by just four points.
Fernando Alonso's championship defeat was particularly painful given that he had led the standings for much of the season and drove brilliantly to extract maximum performance from a Ferrari F10 that was arguably only the third-fastest car. His five victories, including masterful wins in Bahrain and Singapore, showcased his racecraft at its finest. The season also saw Lewis Hamilton win three races for McLaren, including dramatic victories in Canada and Belgium, while teammate Button claimed two wins including a brilliant drive in changeable conditions at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The season marked Formula 1's return following several regulation changes, including the ban on refueling during races, which fundamentally altered race strategy. The grid also welcomed three new teams - Lotus Racing, HRT, and Virgin Racing - though none scored points in their debut season. Michael Schumacher returned from retirement to race for the new Mercedes GP team, though his comeback proved challenging, finishing ninth in the championship with a single podium.
Vettel's championship victory was historic not only for his age but also for the manner in which it was achieved - he became only the third driver in F1 history to win the title despite leading the championship for the first time only in the final race, joining John Surtees (1964) and Keke Rosberg (1982). The thrilling four-way title battle and dramatic finale made 2010 one of the most memorable seasons in modern Formula 1 history, setting the stage for Red Bull's subsequent period of dominance.