Vettel far ahead in F1 ranks
REIGNING champion Sebastian Vettel heads into the last four races of the Formula One season knowing the fate of the championship is in his hands after a commanding win in South Korea.
The Red Bull driver secured a third win on the trot on Sunday and leapfrogged Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to the top of the drivers’ standings.
It looks like a two-horse battle for the title after the chasing McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button endured a dreadful weekend at Yeongam.
Hamilton was 10th, while his fellow Briton was dumped out of the race moments after the start by an apologetic Kamui Kobayashi. Hamilton and Button, both former world champions, admitted afterwards their assault on the crown was over.
Kimi Raikkonen, of Lotus, is third in the championship but a hefty way behind the two at the top of the pack. Red Bull’s Mark Webber is fifth, behind Hamilton.
Vettel, who is going after a third title on the bounce, tops the chart with 215 points, Spaniard Alonso is on 209 and Raikkonen 167.
‘‘ We finally found our strength again and since Singapore it works,’’ the German said, after he and Webber enjoyed a Red Bull one-two in Korea.
Vettel has gradually closed the gap on Alonso, before usurping him on Sunday.
Alonso was third in the race, his teammate Felipe Massa fourth.
But the 25-year-old Vettel said nobody at Red Bull was getting carried away.
‘‘What I think is important is that we have to keep things simple,’’ he said.