Never mind ripping up the formbook, it would have to be thoroughly shredded – and the remains pulped for good measure – for Sebastian Vettel to be denied a fourth successive Formula One title on Sunday.
Everything indicates that Red Bull’s 26-year-old German will become the sport’s youngest quadruple champion with a flourish in what may well be Formula One’s last appearance in India for the foreseeable future.
Since the race made its debut in 2011, Vettel has led every lap in India and arrives chasing a hat-trick of poles and wins at the Buddh International circuit in Greater Noida, south of the capital.
With a 90-point lead over Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and four races remaining, the German may not even need to finish on Sunday to become only the third driver to win four titles in succession.
Alonso is the only man who can keep him waiting for the second race in a row and even victory will not be enough if Vettel takes at least fifth place.
If the Spaniard retires, the matter will be settled on the spot.
Vettel has retired only once this season and finished at least fourth in all the other races. Even if the German fails to score, Alonso must still finish first or second to stay mathematically in contention.
The Red Bull driver is on a roll that could lead to more rewriting of the record books after he notched up five wins in a row in Japan this month to become the first driver since Michael Schumacher in 2004 to perform that feat.
Nobody, least of all his rivals, is ruling out the German winning the remaining races of the year to take his tally to nine in a row and equalling a record set by Italy’s Alberto Ascari 60 years ago.
“If he doesn’t have any reliability issues, I am willing to put money on it,” commented Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton after Suzuka.
Alonso meanwhile has not won since his home race in Spain in May and although he has finished second on five occasions this year, Vettel took the chequered flag ahead of him in four of them.
The last time the Ferrari driver finished in the top two with Vettel drawing a blank was in Valencia in June last year – 28 races ago.
Alonso can hope to be third time lucky, after finishing third in 2011 and second last year, but India is very much Vettel’s track and Ferrari’s main concern now is to beat Mercedes and hold on to second place in the constructors’ championship.
Ferrari are only 10 points clear of Mercedes, with Lotus a further 23 adrift after outscoring both teams in the last two races, in a battle that is about prize money as much as paddock status.
Red Bull can also retain the constructors’ title for the fourth year in a row on Sunday as an added bonus.
“So far everything has always gone perfectly for us in India. There is also a very nice trophy at the end of the race – so it would be great to hold one again this year,” Vettel said this week.
It could be the last chance anyone has to get their hands on it. India is not on next year’s calendar and although local organisers are talking about a return in 2015 few paddock insiders are optimistic.
The teams and organisers have been vexed by taxation issues while also wrestling with financial problems and slow ticket sales after drawing a big crowd to the inaugural event.
Race to go ahead
Indian Grand Prix organisers yesterday confirmed that Sunday’s race will go ahead even though the country’s top court has agreed to hear a petition today seeking its cancellation over tax issues.
The Supreme Court decided to hear the case after campaigner Amit Kumar accused race promoters Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) of not paying entertainment taxes in full for the 2012 race.
“The race will go on. There’s absolutely no doubt about that,” Indian motorsports chief Vicky Chandhok told Reuters.
“This has happened many times before. You’ve had people trying to stop cricket matches...our justice system is pretty strong that no sporting event should be stopped.”
Drivers’ standings
1. Vettel 297; 2. Alonso 207; 3. Raikkonen 177; 4. Hamilton 161; 5. Webber 148; 6. Rosberg 126; 7. Massa 90; 8. Grosjean 87; 9. Button 60; 10. Huelkenberg 39; 11. Di Resta 36; 12. Sutil 26; 13. Perez 23; 14. Ricciardo 18; 15. Vergne 13; 16. Gutierrez 6; 17. Maldonado 1.
Constructors
1. Red Bull 445; 2. Ferrari 297; 3. Mercedes 287; 4. Lotus 264; 5. McLaren 83; 6. Force India 62; 7. Sauber 45; 8. Toro Rosso 31; 9. Williams 1.