Dust settled now it’s open throttle for GP

THE controversy over Mercedes’ inseason testing has been settled.

So Formula One’s focus this weekend shifts to the British Grand Prix and Sebastian Vettel’s strong bid to win a fourth-straight title. Coming off an easy win at the Canadian Grand Prix, Vettel has shaken off early season headaches with tyres and his Red Bull team seems ready to dominate.

Already the youngest world champion, the 25-year-old German has a chance to match the exploits of greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher by winning four drivers’ championship titles in a row.

But Silverstone has not been kind to Vettel in recent years. He has only won there once, in 2009, on what is essentially the team’s home track – it’s 30km from Red Bull’s factory in Milton Keynes – and watched his teammate Mark Webber win there two of the past three years.

“The British GP is a highlight of the season and one of my favourite tracks,” said Vettel. “Only Suzuka can be compared to Silverstone.

“No other track on the calendar has a sequence of super fast corners like Silverstone does.” After his win in Canada this month, Vettel was aware his 36-point lead over Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is far from impregnable with 12 races remaining.

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen is another eight points back in third and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is another 11 points behind in fourth.

“I was in a different position last year at this time and I was able to catch up quite a lot,” said Vettel.

This time last year, it was Alonso who had the momentum in the championship, having won in Valencia and taking second at Silverstone. But he failed to win another race and Vettel won four straight to take the title.

Alonso has done well to keep pace with Vettel this season – winning twice and finishing second twice. But there is a sense that Ferrari should be doing better with its i mproved car.

Raikkonen is confident an upgraded car will end a poor recent run; 10th in Monaco and ninth in Canada.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be back to the positions we should be with this package,” the 2007 F1 champion said. “We have to be patient, do our best and we can start catching the leaders.”

Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg will just be happy to get back to racing after the in-season testing row. Mercedes escaped with only a reprimand for violating rules by using its current-season car to conduct a testing session with Pirelli.

Hamilton, who switched this season from McLaren to Mercedes, has surprised critics with a strong showing in several races – including three podium finishes. The Brit’s championship season in 2008 included victory at Silverstone. — Sapa-AP