Experience pays for Vettel in Turkey

Ferrari blames pitstops for lack of points.

LONDON:

Red Bull chief Christian Horner believes his star driver Vettel is racing better than ever thanks to the experience of winning the drivers’ world title last year.

“I think he has just got the benefit of experience now,” said Horner. “He is enjoying that and he is in phenomenal form.”

Rivals Ferrari made up lost ground to see Alonso claim his and the team’s first podium finish this year, but McLaren and Mercedes both slipped away slightly after promising to fight back.

“It is difficult for the guys to manage because when you do eight pitstops for the team it is quite heavy and the pressure is high and you may have mistakes,” said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

With the win at the Turkish Grand Prix, Vettel leads the title race, 93 points ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2011.