Formula One Freaks-this is it!

Championship permutations:

Alonso (246 points) will be champion if:
- he finishes first or second
- he finishes third, fourth or fifth, and neither Webber nor Vettel win
- he finishes sixth, with Webber no higher than third and Vettel failing to win
- he finishes seventh or eighth, with Webber no higher than fourth and Vettel failing to win
- he finishes ninth, with Webber no higher than fifth and Vettel no higher than third
- he finishes 10th, with Webber no higher than sixth and Vettel no higher than third
- he fails to score, with Webber no higher than sixth, Vettel no higher than third and Hamilton failing to win
If no rivals score? Alonso is champion

Webber (238) will be champion if:
- he wins, with Alonso no higher than third
- he finishes second, with Alonso no higher than sixth and Vettel failing to win
- he finishes third, with Alonso no higher than seventh and Vettel failing to win
- he finishes fourth, with Alonso no higher than ninth and Vettel failing to win
- he finishes fifth, with Alonso no higher than tenth and Vettel failing to win
If no rivals score? Webber must finish fifth or higher to become champion

Vettel (231) will be champion if:
- he wins, with Alonso no higher than fifth
- he finishes second with Alonso no higher than ninth and Webber no higher than fifth
If no rivals score? Vettel must finish second or higher to become champion

Hamilton (222) will be champion if:
- he wins, with Alonso failing to score, Webber no higher than sixth and Vettel no higher than third.
If no rivals score? Hamilton must win to become champion

Deadlock: in theory, Alonso, Webber and Vettel could finish level on points at the top - a result of Vettel winning, Webber second and Alonso fifth in Abu Dhabi would give them 256 points apiece. Vettel and Alonso would have five wins each, two second places each and three third places each. Vettel would then be champion based on his three fourth places to Alonso’s two.

well hopefully the race will be more exciting that last week's snoozefest

I have to admit, he has been the best driver this year. Im rooting against Vettel. I dont want another GP where he takes the pole and leads the entire race-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Team orders are a part of Formula one. The FIA did not impose a penalty on Ferrari. That says it all.
And Alonso is famous for demanding that his team make him number one-nothing new there.
I have mixed feelings about the team orders. I would like to think each driver is racing for himself-presumably making the races more competitive. But given the amount of money these teams spend and the potential rewards for winning a championship, acting as a team makes financial sense. We are talking big money. Rumored to be as much as $100 million for the constructor's championship.
Funny, Im not sure if there is prize money for the driver's championship, as there is in NASCAR.
I am sure there is some financial reward though.