Vettel closes on Schumacher record

Sebastian Vettel
12 April 2012

Sebastian Vettel is just two victories shy of equalling a record many thought would never be touched after his latest triumph in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.

For the first time in his career the Red Bull star achieved Formula One's grand chelem of pole, win, fastest lap and leading for every single lap, to further underline his dominant campaign.

In the end, Vettel finished a comfortable 8.4 seconds ahead of Jenson Button in his McLaren to take the chequered flag for the 11th time in his career to leave him two wins shy of Michael Schumacher's 2004 mark of 13.

Again, though, arguably the major talking point to emerge from the race was yet another incident involving Ferrari's Felipe Massa and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. On this occasion the four-man stewards' panel laid the blame at the door of Massa as the duo, inextricably drawn to one another this season, collided for the sixth time.

Their latest coming-together unfolded on lap 24, just as Hamilton had dived down the inside of Massa on the approach into the left-handed turn five as he attempted to claim fifth place. The Brazilian, however, swiped across the Briton, and for the most part emerged unscathed, unlike Hamilton who was forced to pit for a new front wing.

Unsurprisingly, the stewards - that included Johnny Herbert - called an investigation, and very quickly opted to hand Massa a drive-through penalty which he served at the end of lap 31.

Four laps later, though, his race was run, as turn eight caught out Massa, with damage occurring to the front-left suspension, retiring soon after on track. Prior to the incident, Hamilton had an outside shot at the podium, but after it his race was compromised, leaving him to trundle home seventh, more than 84 seconds behind Vettel.

Either side of their clash, India's debut was hardly the most riveting of races because try as he might, Button could not get close enough to Vettel. After the Briton had passed Fernando Alonso into turn one, then Mark Webber into turn four on the first lap, trading places with the Australian over the next two laps, his one-two with Vettel never altered.

Behind the leading duo, pit-stop strategy in the second round at two-thirds distance, allowed Alonso to claim third in his Ferrari from Red Bull's Webber, still without a win this year.

Then came the Mercedes duo of Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, followed by Hamilton, with Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari, Bruno Senna for Renault and Force India's Adrian Sutil claiming the minor places.

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