Saturday, 21 September 2013 00:00
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Sebastian Vettel aims to take another step towards a fourth straight Formula One world title on Sunday by completing a winning hat-trick in what he names a “killer” race in Singapore.
The German Red Bull driver enters the only night grand prix on the calendar with a healthy 53-point lead over Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and 81 ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
Asia brings out the best in Vettel, where he has scored 17 of his 32 race wins, which tie him with Alonso for fourth on the all-time list for the region. If all goes well, he could even clinch the title on October 13 in Japan, just as in 2011, with four races to spare.
Vettel won the last two grands prix in Belgium and Italy ahead of Alonso, leaving the opposition reeling and Alonso admitting he needs a lot of luck to catch the rampant German.
But Ferrari are not giving up, as President Luca di Montezemolo remained defiant in an interview with Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport which was also posted on the Ferrari website.
“I am expecting updates that will bring improvements. We should bear in mind that there’s only one Red Bull getting the results.
“The team will support Alonso until the very last metre,” Di Montezemolo said.
The President also said that Felipe Massa will continue to support Alonso and the team before having to leave after the season - with Kimi Raikkonen to return to the Scuderia in 2014 as Alonso’s partner. Raikkonen, who lies fourth for Lotus in the championship a distant 88 points behind Vettel, was the last Ferrari world champion in 2007 during his first term there. Alonso won the debut Singapore race in 2008 and again in 2010, Hamilton in 2009, while Vettel topped the bill in 2011 and 2012 on the 5km Marina Bay street circuit.
“It is a fantastic moment if you win there,” said Vettel, adding that the course allows no mistakes as drivers are tested to the maximum in hot and humid conditions despite the night-time start.
“The track is a killer because there are so many bumps. There is no room for mistakes,” he said. (AAP)
