Victories priority for Vettel over any records

Sebastian Vettel has revealed that victories rather than a place in Formula 1’s history books are his motivating force.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winningRed Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winning
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winning

Vettel is on the cusp of becoming only the third driver in F1 to win a fourth consecutive world title, standing alongside two of the greats in Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio.

Setting a personal best record of five successive wins, and a fourth in the last five years at Suzuka, Vettel is 90 points clear of the only man mathematically capable of catching him.

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With Fernando Alonso finishing fourth, it means the champagne is on ice for another fortnight until the Indian Grand Prix where Red Bull should also celebrate their fourth straight constructors’ crown.

For Vettel, standing on top of the podium at Suzuka summed up why he is in F1 because after the boos at Monza and in Singapore, there were nothing but cheers and adoration from the knowledgeable Japanese fans

Offered a choice between going down in history with Schumacher and Fangio, or standing on top of every podium on the calendar, Vettel replied: “I prefer the second thing.”

The 26-year-old German added: “When I was small I dreamed about F1, and honestly never thought one day I would be able to test one of these cars.

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“The first time I did I s*** myself the first couple of laps and I thought ‘All right, that’s for real men, not for me’, but then I got used to it and obviously wanted to do more.

“A couple of years later Red Bull gave me the chance at Toro Rosso to get some races, and it’s incredible what’s happened over the last couple of years.

“But nothing has changed in the way I still love racing, I love the challenge, I’m still nervous when I wake up on Sunday, still excited when I walk on the grid and tense, looking forward to the race.

“I enjoy not the numbers but the fact I’m racing, and a great crowd (yesterday), a fantastic day.

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“It would be a shame if you were too tense and if you tried to force things too much, so you have to allow yourself to enjoy it because this (the job) is not normal. It doesn’t happen to everyone.

“I’m very fortunate I’m one of 22 guys in Formula 1, that when we leave our hotels we get great respect from the fans who are cheering, shouting our names, and it’s just great.

“That’s what I look forward to most, and obviously trying to do it again – and I love trophies so I don’t mind collecting a few either.”

On a circuit Vettel has made his own over the years, he suffered a rare poor start behind polesitter and team-mate Mark Webber.

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This allowed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton a chance to squeeze between them, only to sustain a right-rear puncture after the merest of touches with the left end of Vettel’s front wing.

Hamilton was eventually forced into retirement with severe damage to the floor of his car after he had limped back to the pits.

Instead, from fourth on the grid, Lotus’s Romain Grosjean grabbed the early lead, and from that moment it became a battle of strategies.

On a two-stop, and exercising patience over the opening laps, Vettel made his work to perfection to finish seven seconds ahead of Webber, who stopped three times, and Grosjean who changed tyres twice.

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“I’ve now won four times here at Suzuka, which is incredible,” added Vettel.

“Regarding the championship we have a very, very good gap. It looks very good at this stage, but we will still keep pushing. It’s not over until it’s over.”

As far as Alonso is concerned, the Spaniard knows “it’s only a matter of time before he (Vettel) will be champion”.

Alonso, who finished 45 seconds down, added: “We have different goals now. We will continue to try to do our best on Sundays, and when it is mathematically settled we will congratulate him.”

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Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen was fifth, followed by the Saubers of Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez, the latter in the points for the first time in his rookie year.

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, given a drive-through penalty for an unsafe release after almost colliding with McLaren’s Sergio Perez, was eighth.

McLaren’s Jenson Button and Felipe Massa in his Ferrari completed the top 10, with Paul Di Resta 11th for Force India.

Hamilton was left hoping for a change of luck after suffering his first retirement of the season.

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From third on the grid behind an all Red Bull front row, Hamilton enjoyed what he felt was his best start of the season since joining Mercedes.

However, the puncture sent him to the rear of the pack and on a slow crawl back to the pits for a change of rubber.

Unfortunately for Hamilton, despite returning to the track, it became apparent he had sustained severe damage to the floor of his car, resulting in him retiring after only seven laps.

It means since his win in Hungary and third place in Belgium, Hamilton has scored just 22 points from the last four races, ending his slim, unrealistic hopes of the title.

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“The start was such a good feeling,” said Hamilton. “But I had such a light touch with Sebastian, I didn’t even notice it until I got to turn one.

“After that, the tyre blew. I tried my best to get the car round, but the tyre disintegrated and destroyed the floor.

“After the pit stop, the car was pulling to the right and I had very low downforce so I was struggling and I had to stop.

“It’s a real shame because I think a podium could have been possible, and the guys on the team deserve a better result after such a long trip.

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“I just feel bad for them because they’ve worked so hard this whole time we’ve been away, so it’s really disappointing what happened.

“And it’s frustrating for me because when you don’t even complete the first lap it’s so gutting.

“Luck just has not been on our side lately, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

“We’ll now head home, keep working hard and see if we can improve for the next couple of races.”

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In the fight for second in the constructors’ championship, Mercedes have fallen 10 points behind Ferrari, while Lotus are closing in as they trail by 23.

Hamilton added: “Looking to the last four races, I will just be going out there to enjoy them and score as many points as I can for the team.

“I still believe second in the constructors’ championship is in our reach if our luck turns.”