Sebastian Vettel praised his “magnificent” car after winning the Japanese Grand Prix for Red Bull at Suzuka on Sunday.
The German won his first race since the European Grand Prix at Valencia in June to jump to third in the championship standings.
“It’s about time,” said the 23-year-old after his third victory of the season.
“This track is like it has been drawn for us with all the high-speed corners. It’s always a pleasure [to drive]. When the car was getting lighter and lighter [with fuel] at the end, it was more and more fun.
“You want to push every single lap, because the car is magnificent around here.”
The victory was the eighth of Vettel’s career, and he joins Mika Hakkinen (1998, 1999) and Michael Schumacher (2000-02) as the only drivers to win consecutive races at the high-speed 5,8km track.
Australian Mark Webber was second, finishing 0,9 seconds behind his Red Bull teammate, and extended his lead in the world championship to 14 points with three races remaining.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was third, and is now equal with Vettel on 206 points, the pair trailing Webber on 220.
McLaren teammates Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth, Hamilton nursing an ailing car to the finish with gear selection issues. – AFP