Vettel joins legends after wrapping up fourth title

Sebastian Vettel has revealed his hurt at being repeatedly booed by race fans this season but was delighted to give the “right answer on the track” by clinching his fourth world title with victory in yesterday’s Indian Grand Prix.

Vettel has faced hostile podium receptions in Canada, Italy and Singapore among other venues this season, a trend that is presumed to be the legacy of his controversial decision to defy team orders and pass Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber for the win in Malaysia in March.

Happily for the German there were no such ugly scenes at the Buddh International Circuit after he produced a consummate drive to win at the track for the third year in a row.

It was also Vettel’s sixth win in succession this season, and 10th overall, but more pertinently it was a result that saw him become the youngest ever four-time world champion, joining Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio as the only men to reach that milestone.

At the age of just 26, Vettel is six years younger than Schumacher was when he became a four-time champion in 2001, and will fancy his chances of eclipsing his compatriot’s outright record of seven world titles.

Vettel’s win also wrapped up the constructors’ title for Red Bull.

Vettel said: “I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know what to say. It’s been one of best days of my life so far.

“It was phenomenal all season, to be honest, so I couldn’t ask for more.”

Vettel took the chequered flag 30 seconds clear of the chasing pack, moving him into an unassailable 115-point lead in the standings with three races to spare.

Webber had been on target to make it a Red Bull one-two but an alternator problem forced him to retire at two-thirds distance, paving the way for Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and Romain Grosjean of Lotus to complete the podium.

Vettel had a 90-point lead over Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso coming into this weekend but any slim hopes the Spaniard may have had of producing a miracle fightback were ended by first-lap collisions with Webber and Jenson Button that saw him finish 11th.

There was a sting in the tail on Vettel’s big day, however, when he was summoned before the stewards to explain his actions after the race.

Deciding to celebrate his title with the fans, Vettel turned doughnuts on the pit straight before dropping to his knees in mock-prayer to the all-conquering Red Bull RB9 that has seldom failed him all year.

Although a great spectacle for the worldwide TV audience, the FIA took a dim view and hit Vettel with a reprimand and Red Bull a €25,000 fine.