Parc Ferme: Hogging numbers

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 02 November 2012 | 14.23

Domination ... Sebastian Vettel is racking up the numbers in his 2012 title charge. Source: Mark Baker / AP

Be prepared to duck, and make sure the statistics I'm about to throw at you don't hit you in the face.

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Okay, so that's a bit aggressive. I just feel the numbers that sum up Sebastian Vettel's form are far more exciting than the races he's currently dominating.

There are genuine concerns for the future of both the Indian and Korean rounds of the world championship, and it's hardly surprising when you consider how they've played out over the past two years.

Vettel has led every lap of both Indian events, and all bar two at Korea's Yeongam circuit this season and last. It doesn't matter if you're a grand prix racing purist or not, repeat victories of that nature are rarely enthralling.

The reigning World Champion is the first driver since Ayrton Senna in 1989 to lead three consecutive races from start to finish. While Senna's domination aboard the McLaren in San Marino, Monaco and Mexico didn't ultimately result in that year's crown, it seems unfathomable that Vettel won't make his current run count.

Vettel has led every racing moment since inheriting the lead from Lewis Hamilton on lap 23 of the Singapore Grand Prix. His 206 laps in the lead result in the fifth longest streak in history, with only Senna, Nigel Mansell and Alberto Ascari spending longer up front.

It's an enormous ask, but should the 25-year old still lead on lap 45 of the inaugural US Grand Prix in Austin, he'll break Ascari's record from 1952 of 305 consecutive laps led.

Interestingly, Vettel's Indian win saw him pass teammate Mark Webber's longest streak, which was 159 leading laps in Spain, Monaco and Turkey during 2010. When you consider how that particular run ended, you may conclude that Vettel's actually broken Webber's streak twice.

There are also some numbers that threaten to make the next three races mildly interesting. Vettel has never won five straight, and should he do so in Abu Dhabi he'll draw alongside another great champion. Sir Jackie Stewart claimed 27 grand prix wins from 99 starts, which Vettel will match with victory at Yas Marina. However while Stewart secured three titles in that period, the current star will need at least one extra attempt to confirm his triple.

It seems Vettel has borrowed elements of style from each of his previous titles in making his 2012 charge. Like 2010, he was beset with mechanical issues early in the campaign, before turning up the wick once the championship reached Asia. As if an omen, the top six in India mirrored the final standings of 2010 - Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Hamilton, Button and Massa.

His level of overall domination lately has been 2011-esque, so much so it's difficult to fathom just how unpredictably this season started. It seems incredible that should Vettel win in Abu Dhabi, USA and Brazil, he'll have won seven straight to conclude a year that began with seven different winners. 

The numbers will mean nothing if Vettel fails in the final three rounds, but it's hard to imagine Red Bull not having a clear advantage at all venues. The Circuit of the Americas presents an unknown, but the fact the team has claimed three straight front-row lockouts for the first time in its history proves there's pace to spare.

If the ever-efficient German can just find it in his heart to actually spare that speed, along with a couple of trophies and a few records, we'll get a cracking championship conclusion.

Seriously, he needs to stop hogging the numbers.


Richard Bayliss is a reporter for Fox Sports News. Follow SPEED on Twitter and on Facebook.


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