Red Bull?s Sebastian Vettel won the inaugural Indian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Indian GP is the 17th with two more races remaining this season.
While the debate rages as to whether the German could one day equal countryman Michael Schumacher?s haul of seven world titles, Vettel continues to rack up landmarks, equalling Juan Manuel Fangio?s 28 pole positions with top spot in qualifying for the Indian Grand Prix on Saturday. While not the outright record, Vettel has a long way to go before he equals the outright pole record, held by Schumacher at 68, the younger German is excited about making his mark on the sport.
?I didn?t know (about the Fangio statistic) but, yeah, it?s definitely special,? Vettel admitted.
Vettel said he was filled with mixed emotions. ?I am very proud to be first winner of Indian GP. But I also miss our mates whom we lost recently.? For his Indian fans, he said, ?Great race, great circuit, so thanks to the people of India.?
Initially, Mclaren?s Lewis Hamilton appeared to come out of the clash the better of the two. That was misleading because the McLaren driver fell back through the field. Ultimately, however, Ferrari?s Massa dropped out of the race after damaging his front left suspension on a kerb while Hamilton finished seventh.
To complete another disappointing Sunday afternoon for Hamilton, he got beaten by his McLaren team-mate in the drivers? standings for the first time in his career. Mc Laren?s Button, who started in third place, produced a slick move to jump Mark Webber at the start. He remained there, though never looked likely to topple the world champion.
Alonso, almost unnoticed, went round for third ahead of Mark Webber and an impressive Michael Schumacher, who finished ahead of his team-mate Nico Rosberg and Hamilton.
But it was once again a driving demonstration by Vettel, who started at the front and led every lap. He is already the strong favourite to win next year.
Jenson Button of McLaren finished second while Ferrari?s spanish driver Fernando Alonso came third.
Tendulkar?s longtime friend and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher finished fifth while Red Bull?s Sebastian Vettel took the winners trophy.
Jenson Button conceded that not even a ?perfect? job by him and McLaren could prevent Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull securing yet another victory this season in the Indian Grand Prix.
?Every time through the pit stops we seemed to gain a little bit … I don?t know whether it was through the stop itself or after the stop … and on tyres when I came out of the box I felt very good and very competitive and that was when I was really able to close the gap down. But as soon as Seb got into a rhythm I couldn?t do anything about it really,? he said.