Sebastian Vettel is in pole position to wrap up a fourth straight Formula 1 world drivers’ title at this weekend’s Indian Grand Prix – live on BBC Sport and Sky Sports F1.
If Suzuka last time out, scene of Vettel’s strategically astute ninth win of the season last time out, is regarded as one of the greatest of Formula 1’s classic circuits, this weekend sees the championship move to a track that has been widely praised as one the finest recent additions to the calendar – India’s Buddh International Circuit.
The location for round 16 of the 2013 season features exciting changes of elevation, two long, fast straights and a technically challenging middle sector that features the tricky multiple apex Turn 10.
The circuit has quickly proved popular with the sport’s drivers, who appreciate it having the second highest average speed of the year after Monza, but also the skill required to hook up a good lap around its 5.125km length.
Getting that perfect lap requires a car that treads a very fine line in balancing the speed needed to get the best from the long straights and good aerodynamic grip and balance for the middle sector.
Vettel’s victory in Japan, his fifth win in a row this year, has given him a 90-point advantage over Fernando Alonso in the drivers’ championship.
The Ferrari driver has virtually all but conceded defeat in the wake of the race at Suzuka and this weekend could see Vettel crowned champion.
Red Bull’s number one driver needs fifth place or better here to become just the fourth driver in F1 history to win four titles and only the third to win four in a row – alongside Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher.
Vettel has not only taken pole position and victory in the two Indian GPs staged so far, he has also led every lap of each race.
Last year he also finished in first place in every practice session, while Red Bull Racing have locked-out the front row at both grand prix with Mark Webber second on the grid in 2011 and 2012.
Last time out in Japan, Vettel recorded his fifth victory in a row this season as his domination of the sport continues to see no signs of waning.
The last time a driver recorded five or more successive wins was in 2004, when Michael Schumacher won the opening five races of the season.
The Ferrari driver then went on to win seven in a row between the European and Hungarian GPs that year, so Vettel will need to win here and in Abu Dhabi to match that feat.
Meanwhile, in the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull Racing have 445 points, compared with 297 for nearest rival Ferrari, so the Milton Keynes-based team can this weekend also conceivably wrap up the manufacturers’ title.
Follow the 2013 Indian Grand Prix by watching BBC Sport or Sky Sports F1’s extensive coverage. Full details below.
OFFICIAL F1 WEBSITE TRACK GUIDE LIVE TIMING
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FORMULA 1 2013 ON SKY SPORTS F1 HD
BBC Sport will have live free-to-air coverage of the 2013 Indian Grand Prix across all its platforms.
Live coverage begins on Friday with both free practice sessions on BBC Two and BBC Two HD, followed by practice three on Saturday morning.
As usual on live race weekends, both qualifying and the race will be shown as it happens early on Saturday and Sunday morning respectively on BBC One and BBC One HD, followed by re-runs in the afternoon.
Suzi Perry presents BBC TV’s coverage all weekend where she will be joined by regular trackside experts David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan, both of whom will be on hand to provide lively analysis and discussion in the pits and paddock.
During the lengthy qualifying and race build-ups there will be plenty of fresh features and interviews to keep viewers informed and entertained, including David Coulthard’s grid-walk on race day.
Commentary comes from Ben Edwards and Coulthard, with technical analysis from Gary Anderson, while Lee McKenzie and Tom Clarkson will provide pit-lane updates and conduct interviews with the drivers and team personel.
McKenzie will also host the BBC’s preview programme Inside F1 on the BBC News Channel on Friday at 6.45pm and Saturday at 7.45pm.
BBC Sport’s popular F1 Forum, presented by Suzi Perry, follows the conclusion of the BBC One race transmission on the BBC Red Button and online at 11.45am.
The BBC Sport website will have live streaming of all live BBC TV broadcasts, as well as additional live video content during including extra feeds such as driver tracker, on-board cameras, pits channel and a choice of commentary, plus interviews and analysis.
All of the BBC’s TV coverage will be available to view shortly after transmission on BBC iPlayer.
BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra will also have live audio commentary of every on-track session from Suzuka with James Allen, Jennie Gow and Gary Anderson.
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FORMULA 1 2013 ON SKY SPORTS F1 HD
Sky Sports F1 will have its usual extensive live coverage of this weekend’s Indian Grand Prix from New Delhi.
Every practice session, Saturday’s qualifying and the race itself will be shown live in high-definition.
Simon Lazenby will present full coverage of the Friday practice sessions, qualifying and the race itself, where he will be joined throughout the weekend by Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert.
Ted Kravitz and Natalie Pinkham will have the latest news and reports and from the pit lane, while commentary on all sessions comes from David Croft.
Martin Brundle joins Croft in the commentary box for both qualifying and the race, while Anthony Davidson returns from sportscar duties to call the practice sessions as well as offer his insights from the Sky Pad during the weekend.
From this grand prix weekend onwards, Sky Sports F1 has altered its live race day coverage by spliting its programming into three sections – Track Parade, build-up and full uninterrupted race coverage, and Paddock Live.
During the race, a host of interactive additions, including on-board cameras, pit-lane feeds, the latest race stats and much more available via the red button and the Sky Sports for iPad app.
For those who won’t be at home, every second of the action can be seen via computers, laptops, mobiles and tablet devices on Sky Go.
Further information, news and video content can be found at skysports.com/f1, and viewers are encouraged to interact with the live programmes via Twitter – @SkySportsF1, #SkyF1.
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