10/18/2011 01:43 pm

Fastest Lap trophy now nearly out of reach

Red Bull clinches constructor’s title as Vettel again makes it look easy!

It appears Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel isn’t planning to ride off into the sunset with his 2011 Driver’s Championship trophy just yet.

This weekend at the 2011 FORMULA 1™ KOREAN GRAND PRIX in Yeongam, the German once again piloted himself to the top of the podium – his 10th win of the season and his 20th career race win.

Red Bull teammate Mark Webber was also back in form, joining Vettel on the winner’s podium in third place. The one-three finish gave team Red Bull Racing enough points to clinch the constructor’s title – yet another addition to the team’s already impressive trophy cabinet. It seems only a matter of time now before the team completes the season’s hat trick. Webber’s five Fastest Laps on the year put him in a comfortable lead ahead of McLaren-Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, each with three Fastest Laps this season.

Vettel crossed the finish line with an enormous 12-second lead, literally driving his message of dominance home in the race’s final lap with a circuit-record-breaking Fastest Lap (1:39.605). The move was a clear response to the recent surge of team McLaren-Mercedes. He could have coasted to the finish, but instead the 24-year-old German tore up the track record and took his second Fastest Lap of the season.

Two down with three to go

Still, team McLaren-Mercedes made a strong showing on the Korea International Circuit. Button followed Hamilton in fourth place, only narrowly missing the podium. The McLaren pilots are now two down with three races to go. However, with the Driver’s and Constructor’s Champions now decided and the McLaren duo looking to leave their mark on the 2011 season, the race for the 2011 DHL Fastest Lap Award should remain an exciting one – one that could keep the spotlight on DHL during the last three races of the season.

Read more about DHL’s partnership with Formula 1TM here.

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