Triumphant Vettel closes on world title

Red Bull driver wins Korean GP, edges towards fourth successive championship.

YEONGAM:

Sebastian Vettel stands on the brink of a fourth world title in succession after he powered away from pole position to win a fiery Korean Grand Prix yesterday.

The unstoppable German, 26, could retain the title in Japan next week if he wins and Ferrari rival Fernando Alonso finishes outside the top eight.

Not even two appearances by the safety car, or the worrying sight of his teammate Mark Webber climbing out of his burning Red Bull, was enough to stop Vettel’s fourth win on the bounce.

He took the chequered flag 4.224 seconds ahead of Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus, who just beat teammate Romain Grosjean to the line for second.

Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who started second on the grid, were fourth and fifth respectively.

Vettel’s third win on the trot in Korea means he has racked up 272 points, a mammoth 77-point lead over nearest challenger Alonso, who came home sixth at Yeongam, with five races to go.

“I’m loving what I do. I’m trying not to think about it to be honest,” Vettel told a post-race press conference, flanked by Raikkonen and Grosjean, when reminded he could win the title next week at Suzuka.

“There are still a lot of points to get even though it looks very good for us. There is a chance for Fernando so we need to stay on top of our game. I look forward to Japan because it’s one of the nicest tracks of the whole season.”

“To be honest, as I said on the podium, we are just having a good time. We enjoy the fact the team is working very well, the car is working — it’s on the edge... probably more than you think from the outside.”

‘Safety car didn’t put podium finish under threat’

Ferrari-bound Raikkonen, who started back on ninth on the grid but battled his way through with a superb exhibition of aggressive racing, said: “I think I lost a place on the first straight.

“The car has been under-steering this weekend and was doing it today and I had to look after my front tyres.

“I got stuck in traffic but even without the safety car we could have finished on the podium.”

There was another hair-raising incident on lap 31, when Perez saw a front-right wheel explode on the straight, catapulting rubber dangerously over the track and bringing out the safety car.

But no sooner had the safety car departed than it was back out on lap 38 when Sutil was again in the thick of it, appearing to spin and take out Webber.

The Australian’s Red Bull glided off the circuit and went up in flames, but Webber – who qualified third but started 13th on the grid because of a penalty – clambered out safely.

“It’s not great getting stuck behind the safety car, but I’m really pleased with the result and great by the team,” said a delighted Vettel, who never looked in danger of relinquishing his spot at the front.

“Fortunately we had enough pace to get ahead after both safety cars, but both Kimi and Romain were very competitive and did better with their tyres,” he added.

Red Bull chief questions response to Webber fire

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner voiced frustration at the ‘age’ it took marshals to get to Mark Webber’s blazing car

“It was a great shame to lose Mark, who would have been on the podium, after he picked up a puncture from the debris from the Perez incident,” said Horner.

“Then after that he was the innocent victim of the incident that saw Sutil losing his car and hitting him, which caused a fire.

“It was somewhat frustrating to see our car on fire for what seemed to be an age.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2013.

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