Formula One: Vettel’s fourth title is just a matter of time

Enjoying a 60 point lead in the championship standings going into Korea, three time world champion Sebastian Vettel took another step towards claiming his fourth consecutive world drivers champion trophy.

After claiming pole during Saturday qualifying for the 2013 Korean GP, Sebastian went about his race like a man destined for greatness.

At the start, Vettel  got off the line quickly, followed by the entire grid into turn 1. As his rivals fought for position, Sebastian just kept his right foot down and knocked down fastest lap after fastest lap. Never really threatened, the 26 year old drove a near perfect pole to flag race, man and machine working harmoniously. He was just that dominant!

With this win Sebastian now leads the standings at 272 points with Alonso 77 points back in second place and Raikkonen and Hamilton at 167 and 161 points respectively.

In an interview with ESPN F1, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said that “It’s strange, you know? Me and Fernando in fifth and sixth at the end having our own little race, yet we are of a higher calibre than that. We should be further ahead fighting with the world champions at the front and with Sebastian. It was fun battling with Fernando but a disappointing race for us. We obviously would have liked to have finished higher; I think we deserved more as a team but things just didn’t go our way today.”

It did however, go pretty well for Nico Hulkenberg in his Sauber. Hulkenberg was able to hold off both Lewis and Fernando in the latter stages of the race. The C32 Sauber-Ferrari had better grip than either the Mercedes or Ferrari. Even while trying to brake late to catch Hulkenburg, Lewis would eventually find the Sauber off running into the distance after turning the corner. The Pirelli’s on the C32 didn’t suffer graining, and had grip all the way to the end.

Lotus drivers Raikkonen and Grosjean took the remaining steps on the podium.

Next week’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, could be the circuit where Sebastian gets his fourth drivers championship. He has to win, with Alonso placing no higher than 9th. Vettel will then be tied with “The Professor”  Alain Prost of having four championships to their name. Also, he will be alongside the great Juan Manuel Fangio (El Chueco) of having four consecutive championship winning years.