Sebastian Vettel made Formula One history by chalking up an eighth successive victory in a single season after taking the chequered flag at the United States Grand Prix.
After equalling Michael Schumacher’s 2004 feat a fortnight ago in Abu Dhabi, German driver Vettel made the record his own with another comfortable run at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
Another triumph in Brazil next Sunday will mean Vettel would equal Alberto Ascari’s all-time record of nine straight wins set in 1952-53, and also Schumacher’s victory haul for one season of 13.
Behind Vettel, Romain Grosjean equalled the best result of his F1 career in claiming the runner-up spot, coming under attack from Red Bull’s Mark Webber late on, but with his tyres giving way the Australian had to settle for third.
Vettel ultimately cruised to his record win and told he was a record-breaker again, he said: “I’m speechless.”
Only to then add: “We have to remember these days. There’s no guarantee they will be forever.”
Going into the summer break there was the threat of an intriguing fight to the finish between four, potentially five drivers. But following the three-week August holiday Vettel and Red Bull have been in a class of their own, aided in part by the change in rules due to come into force for 2014.
With significant resources required for the 1.6-litre turbo-charged V6 engines that replace the current 2.4-litre V8s, teams made a call to focus their money and ideas on next year’s cars.
Red Bull, by their own admission, continued to develop this year’s RB9 to the detriment of the RB10 as they were expecting far more of a challenge that simply has not materialised.
That has, in turn, led to no one holding a candle to Vettel and the Milton Keynes-based marque, and the sizzling run of success that has resulted in the 26-year-old German claiming another record.
Lewis Hamilton came home fourth, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso fifth on a weekend when he has struggled with headaches and back pain.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg almost claimed Alonso’s scalp on the final lap, but had came home sixth, with Mexico’s Sergio Perez seventh at the end of a week when he was axed by McLaren.