Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel sealed his second successive Indian Grand Prix title and fourth consecutive win of the season at the Buddh International Circuit here today.
Starting the race from pole, defending champion Vettel (1:31:10.744) dominated the entire race, finishing in
1:28.723, almost nine seconds ahead of second-placed Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (1:31:20.181) and also stretched his Formula One championship lead over Alonso to 13 points
with three races remaining.
Red Bull team mate Mark Webber (1:31:23.961) crossed the chequered flag as the third car. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (1:31:24.653) finished fourth.
"It has been incredible to come here consecutively for two years and get the pole and win the race. I am very happy, it’s a very special grand prix, I really like the flow of it. We all enjoy it.
"Big thanks to the team, everyone pushed very hard. All of us work hand in hand together, everyone is pushing hard. I am glad to be part of it and enjoying the moment," the 25-year-old German said after clinching the winning trophy.
Alonso said,"It’s not easy to fight with Red Bull but we will never give up and we are happy today we have to congratulate them. Well done Red Bull, well done Sebastian but we will do it."
"We lost points but this weekend this was the plan, we lost the minimum points. We were fast in the straight line but we’re still missing grip in the corners. Today I have to thank to team for the speed in the overtaking
manoeuvres."
Nico Hulkenberg (1:32:05.742) of Sahara Force India finished 8th while Paul Di Resta (1:32:33.559) returned pointless at 12TH.
"I am very happy with the result today and I think eighth was about the maximum that was possible. It was a great team performance and I'm feeling satisfied with what we achieved today," Nico said after the event.
His team-mate Paul said: "It was quite a tough afternoon, but I think that we achieved all we could from
the race because I couldn't get any more out of the car today. I drove as hard as I could and was pushing all the way."
"We were in the hunt battling with Rosberg and Senna, but I didn't really get close enough to challenge them. To be honest I have struggled to find the ideal balance with the car all weekend."
Vettel has 240 points to Alonso's 227, with Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus (173) and Webber (167) with only a
mathematical chance.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (165) and Jenson Button (141) are now officially out of the title race after coming fourth and fifth, respectively.
Record champion Michael Schumacher suffered a rear puncture in the first lap which sent him to the Mercedes pit, saw him lapped by Vettel in lap eight, and retire in the 57th lap amid in investigation of ignoring blue flag orders.
Sergio Perez, who is to take the place of Marcedes-bound Hamilton at McLaren, ruined his race with a puncture on his Sauber because he did not give enough way when he attempted to overtake the Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo.
The next race is on November 4 in Abu Dhabi, where Vettel won his first world title in 2010 ahead of Alonso in what was then the season finale.
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