Vettel dominates in India as McLaren order Lewis to make up with Massa
WORLD champion Sebastian Vettel continued his domination of the Formula One season by claiming victory at the maiden Indian Grand Prix.
It was the German’s (right) 11th win of an utterly dominant campaign as he led from start to finish at the Buddh International Circuit and came in over eight seconds ahead of Jenson Button.
Fernando Alonso took the final podium place ahead of Vettel’s team-mate Mark Webber, but the race was marred by yet another controversial incident involving Britain’s Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.
Hamilton attempted to pass Massa on the inside at turn five of lap 24 and the Brazilian swerved into him. The stewards came down on Hamilton’s side, by giving Massa a drive-through penalty.
It was the sixth occasion the pair had clashed this season and Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal, admitted a resolution must be found.
“They’re young drivers but they’re not that young,” said Whitmarsh. “They’re men. They’ve got to figure it out for themselves. They have to sort it out. They’ve been coming together too frequently. Clearly Lewis and Felipe are magnetic.”
Whitmarsh’s remarks were echoed by his opposite number at Ferrari, Stefano Domenicali, who said: “We cannot have these things being bigger than they are they will be on the mind of the drivers, which is not good.”
RESULTS | INDIAN GRAND PRIX
RACE RESULT: TOP SIX
1. Sebastian Vettel 1:30:35.002
2. Jenson Button 1:30:43.435
3. Fernando Alonso 1:30:59.303
4. Mark Webber 1:31:00.531
5. Michael Schumacher 1:31:40.423
6. Nico Rosberg 1:31:41.853
DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Sebastian Vettel (C) 374 points
2. Jenson Button 240
3. Fernando Alonso 227
4. Mark Webber 221
5. Lewis Hamilton 202
6. Felipe Massa 98
CONSTRUCTORS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Red Bull (C) 595 points
2. McLaren 442
3. Ferrari 325
4. Mercedes GP 145
5. Renault 72
6. Force India 51