‘Anyone but Vettel’ at Singapore Grand Prix

Red Bull driver will look to extend his mastery to Formula One’s only night race.

SINGAPORE: Sebastian Vettel looks set to extend his mastery of Formula One this week but neutrals and his rivals will be hoping for a different winner at the spectacular Singapore Grand Prix.

Former world champions Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen will compete for the first time since being confirmed as a driving pair for Ferrari next year.

But all signs point to the likelihood that Vettel will be the man spraying champagne on Sunday night after taking another step towards an astonishing fourth straight title.

The amiable German, 26, has won the last two night races around Singapore’s spotlit street circuit and three of the last four this season, opening up a 53-point lead over Alonso.

“My wins in 2011 and 2012 were the best because I think it’s one of the toughest races of the year to be honest,” he said. “So to win is an amazing moment and you feel you deserve the champagne. “The circuit is a killer because there are so many bumps, there’s clearly no room for mistakes.”

However, Vettel’s steady march towards another world title, has not been universally popular. Boos rang out from the tifosi at the Italian Grand Prix, where the young German held off Ferrari’s Alonso at the famous team’s home race.

And ‘Anyone but Vettel’ now has a presence on both Facebook and Twitter, in a sign that sections of the viewing public are not enthralled by another era of one-driver dominance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2013.

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