Vettel leads from pole at Interlagos

The final grand prix of the year in Brazil produced an untroubled getaway for Sebastian Vettel from his record-breaking 15th pole position of the season.

Unlike in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago when double world champion Vettel sustained a puncture on lap one that ultimately forced him into retirement, this time he opened up a gap of 1.1secs after the first of the 71 laps at Interlagos.

Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber managed to block Lewis Hamilton in fourth directly behind him into the first corner, and with nowhere to go Fernando Alonso managed to gain a place on the McLaren star in his Ferrari.

After four laps Vettel led by 2.5secs to Webber, with McLaren’s Jenson Button third, a further 2.2secs adrift, followed by Alonso, Hamilton and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, the latter eight seconds back.