OTD: Vettel Bows Down After Clinching His Fourth Title

In comparison with 26th October, 27th was a rather quiet time in Formula One. To put that in perspective, there was only one significant event, which was in 2013. However, that single event spiralled off into 3 different moments in F1 history, namely the end of Red Bull domination and the end of a promising race.

Firstly, It was the day that Sebastian Vettel clinched his fourth F1 world championship. He sealed it by winning the 2013 Indian Grand Prix ahead of Nico Rosberg and Romain Grosjean. The manner in which Vettel won was so dominant that he had a 29 second gap to Rosberg. That day was a mixed day for Red Bull as Mark Webber retired with an alternator failure.

2013 also proved to be the final year that Red Bull dominated the proceedings. Although Vettel went on to win the remaining races, he still sealed the title in India. By the end of the race, Vettel had amassed 322 points to Fernando Alonso’s 207.

Finally, this was also the last ever Indian Grand Prix after the Uttar Pradesh government and the circuit got involved in a tax dispute. The previous two editions were won by Vettel himself, with Alonso and Webber on the podium in 2012. In the inaugural race, Vettel was joined by Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso respectively.

Although the Grand Prix is no longer on the calendar, some have expressed hope that it will return one day. Former F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone has stated that the future of the race is in the promoter’s hands.

The race initially had a contract of five years but only three of them took place. At the time, he said, “We will do whatever is needed to make sure India is back. There are no added challenges to the event.”

“We just need the Jaypee Group to say that ‘we are happy to carry on’ and we can revive the existing contract.”