Sebastian Vettel makes it four in a row with victory at India

Sebastian Vettel has continued his resurgence with another sensational victory at the Indian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Championship rival Fernando Alonso with team-mate Mark Webber just hanging on for 3rd ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Jenson Button set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap, finishing in 5th place behind his team-mate.

Once again the race was held rather smoggy but dry conditions at the Buddh International Circuit, which saw the Red Bulls start the race from the front row of the grid once again. At the start, Sebastian Vettel glided majestically into the lead with Mark Webber a close 2nd, whereas further back Fernando Alonso became embroiled in a battle with the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Heading down into turn four, and the trio amazingly avoided contact as Button remained in 3rd place with Alonso 4th and Hamilton loosing out down in 5th.

Michael Schumacher endured a disastrous opening lap of the race, as the German received a tap from the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne as the pack negotiated the opening corner. This saw the Mercedes driver pick up a puncture on the right rear, and forced him to coast back to the pits as the tyre quickly delaminated on the W103.

As the opening few laps ticked away, Sebastian Vettel opened up his familiar gap to the remainder of the pack, setting fastest lap after fastest lap in his urge to distance himself from the likes of Alonso and Hamilton. The Ferrari of Alonso quickly caught and overtook the McLaren of Button for 3rd, as the 2009 World Champion began to drop through the order with Lewis Hamilton also finding his way around his team-mate.

Sergio Perez was one of the first drivers to make a scheduled pit stop on lap fifteen, as the Sauber driver began suffering greatly from tyre wear. However, the Mexican driver’s race was brought to a harsh and premature conclusion several laps later, as the soon-to-become McLaren driver picked up a puncture reminiscent of Michael Schumacher after a collision with the other Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo. After returning to the pits for new tyres, Perez eventually succumb to retirement due to damage on his C31.

As the race continued out on track, Jenson Button became the first of the one-stoppers on lap 26 as he dived into the pits. The Briton was quickly followed several laps later by the majority of the midfield teams as well as Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus, with the Ferraris also following suit in the following laps.

Pastor Maldonado became the next driver to incur a puncture on lap 31, as the Williams driver made minor contact with the Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi. This saw the Venezuelan driver run off the track and into the gravel, as he too limped back to the pits for a fresh set of tyres.

Whilst Pastor Maldonado strove to return to the midfield after his lengthy puncture-delay, Lewis Hamilton decided to pit on lap 33. The 2008 World Champion received five new wheels during his stop, with a rare steering wheel change being carried out in just under three seconds as the mechanics fitted four new Pirellis to his machine. A lap later saw race leader Sebastian Vettel calmly pit from the lead, with his immense lead over team-mate Webber allowing him to rejoin the track comfortably in the lead.

Romain Grosjean was the last of the one-stoppers to pit on lap 36, as Michael Schumacher came under investigation by the stewards for allegedly ignoring blue flags as he continued to lap towards the back of the pack after his disastrous opening lap. Pedro de la Rosa became the second retirement of the race on lap 44, as the Spaniard suffered another worrying brake failure into turn four and lightly tapped the barriers.

As the race entered its closing stages, Fernando Alonso was able to overtake Mark Webber for 2nd as Michael Schumacher entered retirement, ending what had been an absolutely terrible race for the German. After taking 2nd from Webber, Fernando Alonso began to gradually reel in race leader Sebastian Vettel, however it was not to be as the dominant Red Bull driver crossed the line to take another sensationally dominant race victory.

Sebastian Vettel now has a 13 point advantage over the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, as the Formula 1 fraternity moves swiftly on to the Yas Marina circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull continue to look uncatchable at the front of the pack, as the final rounds of the 2012 season ebb away.

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