24 Year Old German wins S’pore Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel demonstrated his vast supremacy on Sunday when he won the Singapore Grand Prix to move within a point of becoming the youngest double world champion in Formula One history. The 24-year-old German, the defending champion and runaway leader of this year’s one-man title race, drove from pole position to the chequered flag in flawless style in his Red Bull car. He won the floodlit 61-lap night race at the Marina Bay street circuit by a controlled 1.7 seconds.
Briton Jenson Button finished second in his McLaren to keep the title race just about alive with five races remaining. Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull finished third. Vettel now requires a solitary point to claim his second title in succession and can only be beaten to the crown if Button wins all the remaining races while the German fails to score a further point. With the next race the Japanese Grand Prix October 7-9, there is every chance the peerless Vettel will seal his triumph — and make history — at the Suzuka circuit.
“Obviously I am very pleased with the result and the car was great for me all the way through. I pulled away easily at the start and had a good gap, but the safety car was not in our plans,” said Vettel. “I was lucky again to have a good re-start and I was soon back in the rhythm and I had a huge gap again, even with the traffic. “I was in control at the end and it is a great feeling to win this race — I love the track here and it’s such a challenge. “As to the championship? Ah, well, I guess I have another chance at the next race.” Button revealed his frustrations with slower rivals on the Singapore circuit, which is notoriously hard to overtake on.