Sebastian Vettel ready to put championship to bed

Red Bull driver eyes history at Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

SUZUKA: At the end of a week in which he has been accused of sending Formula One fans to sleep, Sebastian Vettel can put the championship to bed on Sunday.

If the Japanese Grand Prix pans out the same as last year’s race, the 26-year-old Red Bull driver will be enjoying sweet dreams as the youngest quadruple world champion – and only the third four-in-a-row winner – with four races to spare.

Vettel stands on the brink of joining three of the all-time greats – Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher – in the record books as the only drivers to have won four or more titles in the 63-year history of the sport.

The championship leader enjoys a 77 point lead over Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and will wrap up the title if he wins at Suzuka and the Spaniard fails to finish in the top eight.

There is every chance of that happening, even if Alonso has finished eighth or higher in all but one of the 14 races so far this year.

Vettel said yesterday that winning his fourth world title in a row would be ‘incredible’.

“It is an incredible position to be in,” said the German. “Our car seems to work well. So we have a reason to believe we will have a good weekend.”

But his dominance has not been welcomed by everyone. Vettel has been booed repeatedly on the podium by disgruntled spectators who want to see a nail-biting competition.

However, anyone hoping he might fall at this weekend’s hurdle has history against them — Vettel has won three of the past four Japan Grand Prix.

“To be honest, I am looking forward to Suzuka. From the driver’s point of view, it is one of the best, if not the best track in the world,” he said.

Vettel added he was focused on the race at hand, not busy counting his past victories.

“I think you have other things in your head. You obviously are busy driving the car. You are looking after the tyres. Always focused on the moment.

“When you cross the line and you did a good job, then you are happy with yourself. [It] gives a lot of satisfaction. So that’s the most important, I think.”

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

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