Indian GP: Sebastian Vettel says no rush to wrap up title
Sebastian Vettel Thursday insisted he was not in a hurry to wrap up the Formula One title despite his widely expected coronation at this week`s Indian Grand Prix.
|Last Updated: Oct 24, 2013, 06:22 PM IST|Source: AFP
Greater Noida: Sebastian Vettel Thursday insisted he was not in a hurry to wrap up the Formula One title despite his widely expected coronation at this week`s Indian Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old, enjoying a 90-point lead over his nearest challenger Fernando Alonso, only needs to finish in the top five in his Red Bull on Sunday to seal the drivers` championship.
It should be a formality for Vettel, who won the previous two races in India and has triumphed in the last five grands prix, the best streak of his career.
But with four races left in the season, the young German -- set to become the youngest driver to win four titles in a row -- did his best to dampen expectations by saying he was not in a rush.
"It`s looking very good, but we have to focus on the job at hand," said Vettel, who will join Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio as only the third man to win four straight titles.
"For sure it is nice to have the opportunity to win the title here, but we are not trying to focus on that. We are trying to focus on the race. We want to win the championships, it does not really matter where and when.
"Everybody will try hard to do their best, so it is going to be a tough weekend. We have reasons to believe our car will be competitive."
However, Vettel admitted that another double coronation will be "very, very special" for him and his Red Bull team, who are also expected to confirm their fourth successive constructors` title.
"We have been working hard the whole year," he said. "We did not come here thinking we have got to do this, or got to do that. We are just trying to get the best out of ourselves.
"We believe we are good enough to secure the championships. It will be something very, very special for us."
The only way Vettel can be denied the title this season is if he fails to win a point in the remaining four races -- provided Ferrari`s Alonso wins at least three of them and finishes second in the other.
Vettel`s rivals, including Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, say only a flawless race can deny the German a win on Sunday.
"It needs a perfect weekend to put him off the top step," said Webber, who leaves Formula One at the end of the season. "Pole, perfect race, perfect strategy, perfect everything."
"He`s had an incredible run and he has done an incredible job. He`s been incredibly consistent. He`s won with a dominant car but he has also won some races over the last four years when he should not have won."
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg said he will fight hard to beat Vettel over the weekend.
"I have a very good car and although the Red Bull is a bit quicker than us, you never know," Rosberg said. "If we get everything right then it is possible to beat Sebastian and Mark. "I`ll give it everything."
Ferrari`s Kimi Raikkonen said the key to beating Vettel in the upcoming race was in doing well in Saturday`s qualifying.
"I have to do better in qualifying," he said. "That will help a lot and give us a good chance to try to beat them, but it`s not only them."
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