Vettel wins India GP for fourth straight win

Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany leads during the Formula One Indian Grand Prix in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi on October 28, 2012. Vettel rattled off his fourth successive win of the season in the Indian Grand Prix here Sunday to tighten his grip on the title showdown with three races remaining.

NEW DELHI - Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel cruised to his fourth consecutive win and extended his lead in this year’s title race to 13 points when he steered his Red Bull to victory in the Indian Grand Prix Sunday.

The 25-year-old German dominated the race from start to finish as he led from pole to the chequered flag to come home ahead of nearest championship rival, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

Vettel’s Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber finished third to consolidate his grip on third in the title race, the Australian fending off a strong late challenge from Lewis Hamilton of McLaren who finished fourth ahead of his team-mate and compatriot Jenson Button.

Felipe Massa came home sixth in the second Ferrari ahead of his old friend Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus, Nico Hulkenberg of Force India, Romain Grosjean in the second Lotus and 10th placed Bruno Senna of Williams.

It was Vettel’s 26th win and he revelled in his familiar trick of adding the fastest lap of the race in the final lap and then standing atop of his car to milk the applause from the crowd.

Vettel, aiming to become Formula One’s youngest triple champion, said: “Two years and two wins here, it’s a very special Grand Prix, I don’t know what it is about this circuit.

“A big thanks to my team, we’re all pushing very hard.

“This is another good step (to the title) for us but there is still a long way to go.”

Alonso commented: “It’s not easy at the moment to fight with Red Bull but we will never give up….”