Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing-Renault dominated the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit on Sunday last. The German secured his 11th win of the season from pole position, with fastest lap sealing an ideal result.
The track layout presents a challenge for drivers and engineers alike, with long straights demanding good top end power and the cambered turns giving several overtaking opportunities that need driveability and responsiveness from the car and engine.
The lights-to-flag win means Vettel now surpasses another record; the most laps led in one season, a record that has been held by fellow Renault-engined driver Nigel Mansell since 1992. Mark Webber finished in fourth position behind Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso.
Sebastian Vettel secured the trio of pole, win, and fastest lap round the 5.137km track on the outskirts of Delhi. Vettel eased out a five-second lead over Button and Alonso in the opening stages and never lost the lead.
Mark Webber started from second on the grid but was passed by Button into the fourth corner. The Australian was then overtaken by Alonso on his final pit stop and despite a sustained challenge in the final laps finished just over a second from the Ferrari driver.
Rémi Taffin, head of Renaultsport F1 track operations said, “We saw a lot of manoeuvres and battles here and in what ultimately proved to be a race of high attrition. Congratulations to Sebastian on a dominant win; he was never headed and shows that even though both titles are won he’s not lifting off, which very much fits in with our own mentality at Viry.”
Drivers’ championship
1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull ) 374 points
2.Jenson Button (McLaren ) 240 points
3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari ) 227 points
4. Mark Webber (Red Bull ) 221 points
5 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren ) 202 points
9. Vitaly Petrov (LRGP ) 36 points
Constructors’ championship
1. Red Bull Racing 595
2. McLaren 442
3. Ferrari 32
5. LRGP 72
Renault statistics in F1:
141 wins, 192 poles.
