11/02/2011 08:17 am

Vettel wants it all

Sebastian Vettel’s second Fastest Lap in so many races makes him a real contender to win the 2011 DHL Fastest Lap Award.

The 2011 Formula 1™ World Champion is now threatening teammate Mark Webber for yet another victory this year: the 2011 DHL Fastest Lap.

The Red Bull Racing pilot grabbed his third Fastest Lap on the year at the 2011 Formula 1 Airtel Grand Prix of India, the first F1 race ever on Indian soil. He now matches McLaren-Mercedes drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton at three apiece. Webber, who has recorded five Fastest Laps this year, has been watching the McLaren drivers and now his own teammate chip away at what appeared to be a rock-solid lead just a few weeks ago. Now two up with two to go, Webber should be feeling the heat. Interestingly enough, the Australian could win the tie break with another second fastest lap: both Red Bull drivers have three 2nd Fastest Laps this season.

Vettel was in full form on Sunday, pulling away from the grid and building a 4.2 second lead by lap 4. Like in Korea, the 26-year-old German began setting fastest laps toward the end of the race, recording the Fastest Lap on his final trip around the circuit. A statement? Most likely. It was a fairly flamboyant display by the World Champ – and he got an earful from Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner.

Button spent most of the race in second place chasing Vettel and looked to by vying for his fourth Fastest Lap early on – racing a fastest lap in lap 10 to open up a gap between himself and Webber, who was running third at the time.

Webber was unable to compete for second and eventually conceded third place to Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. He battled back hard and pushed the Spaniard all the way to the finish line, running what looked to become the race’s fastest lap in lap 58 with only two laps to go only to be outdriven by his teammate one lap later. In the end even the fastest lap was too little too late for a spot on the podium.

Vettel’s 11th win of the season was an important victory that could mean yet another record this year: matching fellow countryman Michael Schumacher’s record 13 wins in a season. With the World Championship and the Constructor’s trophies already in hand – and the way Germany’s wunderkind is driving – it seems he really does want it all.

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