Chinese official calls Vettel ’Fernando Alonso’

It was an amusing case of mistaken identity for world champion and 2011 series leader Sebastian Vettel.

As flight MH388 touched down in Shanghai from Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, a plethora of F1 faces waited for officials to welcome them to China.

One customs official spotted blonde-haired German Vettel and, according to Bild newspaper, exclaimed: "Fernando! Fernando Alonso!"

His Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, waiting in line behind Vettel, told the 23-year-old: "Go on Fernando, it’s your turn."

Vettel can achieve a rare hat-trick of F1 wins this Sunday, and - dating back to late 2010 - victory in China would make him a five-time consecutive race winner.

"I am not counting," he insisted. "I take it as it comes. But, clearly, to defend my title I have to win as much as I can. That’s the goal, and the sooner the better."