JOIN USVettel moves a step closer to retaining title
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel held off a charging Jenson Button to win the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday and stand one point away from becoming Formula One's youngest double world champion.
The 24-year-old German led from pole to flag and despite a spirited challenge over the final five laps from Button in his McLaren, held on to move 124 points clear of the Briton with just 125 available from the five races remaining.
"You are one point away from achieving the title, brilliant drive," Red Bull team principal Christain Horner told Vettel over the radio after the reigning champion took the chequered flag under the floodlights.
"Yes, yes, Singapore. We did it, " an emotional Vettel replied, whooping in delight.
The title is now set to be decided in Japan on Oct 9, unless Vettel fails to score and Button wins that race at Suzuka.
Vettel, who had opened a 22.7-second advantage before a safety car period halfway through the 61 lap race, crossed the line 1.7 seconds ahead of Button with Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber a further 27.5 seconds back in third.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished a distant fourth.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton collided with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and collected a drive-through penalty before fighting back to fifth place ahead of Force India's British rookie Paul Di Resta in a career best sixth.
Vettel's victory was his ninth of the season and he only looked threatened when Team Lotus released Heikki Kovalainen into his path as they left the pits from their final stop.
Button closed late on as the leader eased up slightly but once the Briton ran into traffic on the final two laps, Vettel's victory was never in doubt.
The 2009 world champion is now the only man who can prevent Vettel from becoming the ninth driver to win back-to-back titles.
Vettel has 309 points to Button's 185, with Alonso out of contention on 184 and Webber on 182.
Button would need to win all the remaining races and the German, who has not finished
lower than fourth all season, would have to fail to score in any of them.
Massa slams Hamilton
A simmering feud between Hamilton and Massa flared up again when the pair clashed again.
Massa, already fuming from an incident in qualifying, was furious after the Briton's McLaren collided with his Ferrari while attempting to pass.
While a stony-faced Hamilton walked past the banks of reporters and TV cameras without saying a word, Massa was more forthright.
Just 24 hours after accusing the Briton of "not using his mind" in qualifying, Massa returned to his old grievance.
"I told you yesterday that he cannot use his mind... even in qualifying, so you can imagine in the race," the Brazilian said.
"In qualifying he tried to do a Superman on the out-lap, you know? And today he tries to do the same in the race."
Sweat dripping from his face in the Singapore heat, Massa continued: "He could have caused a big accident. He touched my wheel on a straight -- 300 kph, and he punctured my tyres, so he destroyed my race."
"(He paid) for that because he had the drive-through, (but) that's the problem. He doesn't understand even paying for a problem," said Massa.
"It is important the FIA (governing body) looks at it, and penalises him all the time.”
Massa looked exasperated when asked if he would speak to Hamilton about the situation. "I tried. But he doesn’t listen to me... he doesn't listen maybe to even his father."
Di Resta sixth
Paul di Resta finished a career-best sixth while Adrian Sutil ended eighth as Force India recorded its best result this season with the team collecting 12 points.
It was only the second double points finish for Force India (46), which consolidated its sixth position in the constructors’ championships, opening up a 12-point gap with Sauber (36).
Before this race, eighth-place finish at the Italian GP was the best result for Resta.
Sutil was eighth, up one place from his grid position.