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AUSTIN, Texas - Sebastian Vettel is back in America and he wants to win the race Lewis Hamilton snatched away from him at the end of the 2012 season.
Vettel led most of the 2012 US Grand Prix until Hamilton overtook him with a bold passing move with 14 laps to go, sending the Englishman to the top of the podium to wear the black Stetson cowboy hat presented to the winner.
Hamilton said on Thursday: "To be able to overtake him was one of the best things ever, but we come into this weekend and everything's different."
STILL FIGHTING
Few have edged Vettel, who has dominated this season with 11 victories and already won his fourth consecutive F1 World championship.
If Vettel wins on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, he'll set a single season record with his eighth consecutive victory. And it would keep the German on target to match countryman Michael Schumacher's record of 13 in a season.
Vettel said on Thursday, a shrug of humility from a driver who is already among the F1 greats: "It's a long weekend. I'm not really here to break a record. Surely I wouldn't mind if that turns out to be the case, but that's not the reason I jump in the car."
And if he does win, what will greet him? Cheers or more of the boos that have chased him after some of his victories in 2013?
Vettel said of the boos: "It's not nice ... (but I) think I understand it. If you're not a Red Bull fan, the last couple of years you could say weren't that great for you. If you are a Red Bull fan, obviously they were fantastic."
2012's inaugural race in Austin had an air of excitement over the new track, and the return of F1 to the US amid a title chase. Vettel was poised to win his third world championship until Hamilton pushed the title chase to the last race of the season in Brazil.
Vettel's dominance has sapped some of the sizzle from the return trip. "It's more relaxed. The tension of the championship is not there anymore," he said.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 US GP weekend.
Vettel led most of the 2012 US Grand Prix until Hamilton overtook him with a bold passing move with 14 laps to go, sending the Englishman to the top of the podium to wear the black Stetson cowboy hat presented to the winner.
Hamilton said on Thursday: "To be able to overtake him was one of the best things ever, but we come into this weekend and everything's different."
STILL FIGHTING
Few have edged Vettel, who has dominated this season with 11 victories and already won his fourth consecutive F1 World championship.
If Vettel wins on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, he'll set a single season record with his eighth consecutive victory. And it would keep the German on target to match countryman Michael Schumacher's record of 13 in a season.
Vettel said on Thursday, a shrug of humility from a driver who is already among the F1 greats: "It's a long weekend. I'm not really here to break a record. Surely I wouldn't mind if that turns out to be the case, but that's not the reason I jump in the car."
And if he does win, what will greet him? Cheers or more of the boos that have chased him after some of his victories in 2013?
Vettel said of the boos: "It's not nice ... (but I) think I understand it. If you're not a Red Bull fan, the last couple of years you could say weren't that great for you. If you are a Red Bull fan, obviously they were fantastic."
2012's inaugural race in Austin had an air of excitement over the new track, and the return of F1 to the US amid a title chase. Vettel was poised to win his third world championship until Hamilton pushed the title chase to the last race of the season in Brazil.
Vettel's dominance has sapped some of the sizzle from the return trip. "It's more relaxed. The tension of the championship is not there anymore," he said.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 US GP weekend.