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Vettel and the championship about to seal the deal

With the 2011 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix fast approaching for this weekend, another world champion is about the be unofficially crowned under the glittering lights of the Marina Bay street circuit. After a dominating season in both qualifying sessions and the race, Vettel and his car ‘Kinky Kelly’ have established a comfortable 112 points lead over second place two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. It is mathematically possible that Vettel will wrap up the 2011 title this weekend in Singapore if he finishes on the podium. His performance in the last race at Monza in Italy silenced critics who claim he can only win from first place as he re-took the lead, on the grass might I add after the safety came in on lap four.  Alonso claims to have nothing to lose in battles with Vettel where he told the BBC that “when we have to defend we will be a little bit harder with him”. Alonso, a three time winner at the Marina Bay circuit will have to fight even harder if he wants to keep Vettel off the podium in Singapore. The reality looks near as Vettel has a desire to win the championship in style and not cruise towards it, shown by his ballsy move on Alonso in Monza.

Red Bull racing’s improving abilities as a Formula One team have silenced critics after last year, where despite winning the constructors and driver’s title they were hit with mechanical woes such as multiple brake failures and engine failures that almost cost Vettel and Mark Webber the championship. The term coined for the team by Lewis Hamilton as ‘only being a drinks company’ is quickly disappearing as they near ever so closer to the ladder of the prominent teams who have impacted on the sport.

I will not hesitate to criticise Mark Webber. Where has he been this year? With a disappointing retirement after a broken front wing in Monza caused him to lose control of his car, he has dragged far behind both Vettel and his rivals in the 2011 championship. Many argue that Formula One driving comes down to the driver and his race car but this theory is quickly coming into question as Webber has only been successful in putting his Red Bull on pole twice this year, pipping Vettel in Spain and England. Even when he is successful in putting his car on the front row of the grid he is usually hit with problems of the car going into anti-stall when he launches away from the line. With Webber’s experience, his determination and having the same car underneath him as Vettel he should be up there making it that little bit harder for his team-mate to win the championship.

We look toward Singapore this weekend and wait to see how the rest of the season will unfold.  So many times before in Formula One we have seen strange turnarounds at the end of the season. Who do you think will be the next driver in line to make the championship that little bit harder for the rookie?