Formula 1: Indian GP Overview

Vettel makes it four on the trot

Sebastian Vettel continued to steamroller his way to a third World Championship with his fifth win of the year in India. Fernando Alonso trailed home in 2nd to keep close to Seb in the Drivers' Championship, whilst Mark Webber completed the podium. 

After a tough start to the year, Vettel and Red Bull have dominated in the pivotal final third of the year; the young German ace has now led every single lap since Lewis Hamilton retired from the lead of the Singapore Grand Prix back in September.

Massa and Raikkonen follow each other home

Much like 2011, Vettel was untouchable all weekend in India. He started on pole, lead every lap and cruised home at a canter. His driving has been impeccable, the ideal blend of speed and control he perfected last season. It really does seem that the title is now his to lose; barring a cataclysmic reversal in fortune, it is hard to imagine Vettel leaving Interlagos, or even Austin as a triple World Champion.

The man best placed to deny him of this is Fernando Alonso. If the title was decided on sheer grit, determination and self-belief, Fernando would no doubt have this year wrapped up by now. He has been driving like a champ all year and you just know he won't give up until it's impossible. Unfortunately for him, Red Bull seem to have hit a vein of performance at the most crucial moment, their RB8 transforming itself into an absolute monster. It'll take some sheer heroics from Fernando to take it to the wire with Seb in the last three rounds.

Elsewhere in India, it was fairly processional from the off. Following home the podium finishers was Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in 4th and 5th, Felipe Massa in 6th and Kimi Raikkonen in 7th. McLaren had high hopes of getting amongst the Red Bull's in the race but ultimately faded; since Singapore, each race has been big on talk, little on delivery for the Woking squad.

Behind them, Nico Hulkenberg notched up another solid drive to 8th, whilst Grosjean's race was surprisingly timid to finish 9th. The final points paying place went to Bruno Senna who pulled some great overtakes on his team-mate and Perez after starting 13th.

Nico Hulkenberg's impressive form continued

Mercedes barely featured, Rosberg trundling home 11th and Schumacher yet again ending his race on the sidelines, his eighth retirement of the year. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ross Brawn has started to tick off the days on his calender until a certain British driver arrives on January 1st...

Further back still, the two Toro Rosso's came to grief throughout the race, both Ricciardo and Vergne innocent participants in incidents that resulted in another driver ending up with a puncture. Williams' Maldonado also suffered a puncture after Kamui Kobayashi sliced across the rear of his car mid-race.

At Caterham, Petrov outraced team-mate Kovalainen whilst Charles Pic did well to beat Timo Glock at Marussia.

Onward then to Abu Dhabi in a mere seven days, a track dominated by two drivers in its short F1 tenure; Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. We can expect those two to duke it out around Yas Marina with the rest of the pack in tow.