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Vettel dominates in practice as Indian GP gets go-ahead
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Champion-elect Sebastian Vettel set a record-breaking pace in Indian Grand Prix free practice yesterday as the troubled race got the go-ahead when a court challenge was postponed.
The 26-year-old has insisted he’s in no rush to wrap up the title but he was a man in a hurry at Buddh International Circuit outside New Delhi, setting new quickest laps in both practice runs.
Vettel, who only needs to finish in the top five to seal his fourth straight world title, clocked 1 minute, 26.68 seconds in the first practice and improved with 1:25.72 in the second, surpassing his own 2011 record of 1:27.24.
It set up a Red Bull one-two in both sessions with soon-to-retire Mark Webber second behind Vettel on each occasion. The team is also expected to seal the constructors’ title this weekend.
The first 10 drivers all finished under the German’s old lap record in the later session.
Vettel is on a five-race winning streak and is unbeaten in India, after claiming both previous races from pole position in 2011 and 2012.
Anything higher than sixth and Vettel will join compatriot Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina as only the third man to win four consecutive world titles.
Vettel even had a chance of sealing the title without leaving the garage, before India’s Supreme Court delayed hearing a petition for its cancellation in a row over taxes.
Cancellation would have left Vettel 90 points ahead in the standings with only 75 available from the final three races in Abu Dhabi, the United States and Brazil.
But the Supreme Court said it would hear the petition, related to allegations of unpaid entertainment taxes from last year’s race, next week.
The court challenge adds to concerns over the Indian Grand Prix’s future after it was left off next year’s Formula One schedule, although it is slated to return in 2015.
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