Yeongam: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel registered his eighth win of the year at the Korean Grand Prix, his third consecutive victory at the Yeongam circuit on Sunday.
Vettel in the process moved closer to winning his fourth -straight Formula One drivers' championship as he stretched the lead from his nearest rival Fernando Alonso to 77 points with only five races remaining, and he could wrap up the title at next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
Vettel led throughout to win by 4.2 seconds ahead of the Lotus pair Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.
Speaking about his win Vettel said that though it was a long race, but it’s really great to win. “The start was crucial, it’s always tricky here as you’re nervous about the long straight when you start from pole. Fortunately we had good traction off the line and I had a strong exit out of the first corner. We kept the lead and tried to control the race from there. I think Mercedes had more range than us today, but we were able to win which is great. It was a very strong performance from the whole team and I’m happy. We’re just focusing on continuing to take one step at a time and trying to get the best out of the car at every single race,” said Vettel.
Meanwhile, Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg put in a superb defensive drive over the last 17 laps by holding off a queue of world champions behind him after the second safety-car period ended, finishing fourth to equal his career best.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was fifth, just holding off Alonso on the last lap. Mercedes Nico Rosberg took seventh by passing eighth-placed Jenson Button of McLaren in the closing stages.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa was ninth and McLaren's Sergio Perez tenth.
