Vettel wins in Koreaposted in F116 | 10 | 2011
RED BULL'S Sebastian Vettel continued his dominance of the 2011 Formula One season when he won the Korea Grand prix, his 10th win of the year. Bathgate's Paul di Resta again finished in the points, finishing 10th in his Sahara Force India.
“It’s good to come away with a point, but ultimately we didn’t have the performance to match Toro Rosso," the 25-year-old Scot (pictured) admitted afterwards.
"It looked like we might be able to hold off Sebastien Buemi in the final laps to stay ninth, but we came up six or seven laps too short with the tyres and I couldn’t hold him back.
"In terms of tyres, we probably should have been a bit more aggressive with the strategy and used my new supersofts at the start of the race, rather than the used set, but I’m not sure it would have changed where we finished.
"Still, every point counts come the end of the year and we’ve managed to gain a point on Sauber, which is important.”
Vettel though was again in a class of his own. The 24-year-old German, who seven days ago sealed his second successive world championship, started from second on the grid.
But by midpoint on the opening lap, the Red Bull master had eased himself ahead of the McLaren of polesitter Lewis Hamilton. Thereafter it was a race to see who finished second as Vettel strolled away to the 20th win of his career.
Hamilton held on for second, fending off ever-increasing pressure from the Red Bull of Aussie Mark Webber. Behind the three podium finishers, Jenson Button brought his McLaren home in fourth, ahead of the fast-charging Fernando Alonso,
The Spaniard was held up for much of the opening half of the race behind his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, but once released at the final round of pitstops posted a series of searing lap times.
Vettel was delighted with winning again, jet seven days after clinching his second world title.
"I think it is good to see that the whole team keeps on pushing," he said. "In terms of preparation it was not ideal because most of us were tipsy after Sunday night but we deserved that.
"But to come here and have a tough Friday and a tough Saturday morning, and to come back in qualifying and in the race was fantastic.
"The car was getting quicker and quicker. It is fantastic, after last weekend the drivers' championship, this weekend the Constructors' Championship for the team. It is fantastic."
And Hamilton, whose attitude was questioned following his lack of reaction to getting pole position on Saturday, was quick to hit back at his critics.
"I would never question by belief in myself," Hamilton said. "That is not something that needs doing.
"I've got the trust and the confidence from the team so it is about trying to stay out of trouble, try and stay out of stewards' office, keep my head down and get better results.
"In the race I struggled. I had full lock everywhere and was struggling with understeer, but it was good weekend for me compared to what I have had in the past so I am happy."
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Jim McGill