Formula One: Vettel wary of pressure at top

LONDON: After an unprecedented three successive world title triumphs, Sebastian Vettel starts the 2013 Formula One season as hot favourite to maintain his domination — provided Red Bull continues to supply a competitive car.

The German clinched the 2012 drivers title by just three points from Spain’s Fernando Alonso of Ferrari as a closely-contested campaign came to a thrilling climax in Brazil. However, Vettel warned immediately that, for him, repeating the feat will only become more and more difficult. “I said after (the Brazil) race that the hardest thing is to win after you have (already) won,” he said. “That has not changed. You get the attention and the pressure, and you are very likely to focus on how to win again, rather than the small steps (needed) to win in the first place.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2013.