Tough Test for Champ

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One year ago, Sebastian Vettel arrived at the Buddh International Circuit already anointed champion of the 2011 Formula One season, having sealed his second title in a row with a comfortable podium finish in Japan. The 25-year-old German then went one better with a pole-to-flag blitz here.

The 2012 edition of the Grand Prix of India, however, provides for a wholly different picture. Vettel is having to fight a great deal harder and the battle with his closest challenger, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, could well go down to the wire, much like his 2010 title that was decided at Sao Paulo.

For now though, Vettel is on a roll. The Red Bull driver has won his last three races and Alonso's cause has not been helped by two DNFs (Did Not Finish) against his name, at the Belgian and Singapore GP.

Vettel has consequently squeezed his way to a six-point advantage over the Spaniard having taken the chequered flag at Singapore, Suzuka (Japan) and Yeongam (Korea). Adding to the discomfort of his challengers, Red Bull’s innovative “double diffuser” has given his car some serious race pace.

In a season that opened with an unprecedented seven different winners, Vettel has once again set himself apart with his recent hat-trick.

And what should worry his closest rivals even more is the appeal the BIC holds for the speedy German. “I loved the track layout last year, but not just because I won the race,” he said. “There is a lot of elevation change around the lap which adds to the fun; it’s like a roller coaster! It really has emerged as one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar for the drivers,” said Vettel.

As it stands, Vettel has every chance to follow in the footsteps of legendary Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and countryman Michael Schumacher by winning a third straight world championship, but he knows the going could get tougher.

“We know what to do and what to expect, but we are not expecting anything. It looks like it could go down to the last race again, right to the wire. We are ready for anything,” Vettel said.