Vettel looks to clinch fourth straight title
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, October 24, 2013
Never mind ripping up the form book, it would have to be thoroughly shredded — and the remains pulped for good measure — for Sebastian Vettel to be denied a fourth successive Formula One title on Sunday.
Everything indicates Red Bull's 26-year-old German will become the sport's youngest quadruple champion.
Since the Indian GP made its debut in 2011, Vettel has led every lap and arrives chasing a hat-trick of poles and wins at the Buddh International circuit in Greater Noida, near New Delhi.
With a 90-point lead over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and four races remaining, the German may not even need to finish on Sunday to become only the third driver to win four titles in succession.
Alonso is the only man who can keep him waiting and even victory will not be enough if Vettel takes at least fifth place. If the Spaniard retires, the matter will be settled on the spot.
Even if the German fails to score, Alonso must still finish first or second to stay mathematically in contention.
Nobody, least of all his rivals, is ruling out the German winning the remaining races of the year to take his tally to nine in a row and equaling a record set by Italy's Alberto Ascari 60 years ago.
"If he doesn't have any reliability issues, I am willing to put money on it," Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said after Suzuka.
Red Bull can also retain the constructors' title for the fourth year in a row on Sunday as an added bonus.
"So far everything has always gone perfectly for us in India," Vettel said this week. "There is also a very nice trophy at the end of the race — so it would be great to hold one again this year."
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