Last year's Indian Grand Prix winner, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is again top of the drivers standing after a brilliant show at the Korean GP in Yeongam. The first-place finish at the Korean GP has taken Vettel six points ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. The fight for top place has become intense with only four races remaining in this season and Formula One fans in India could see a tough battle between the contenders in a race that might be crucial in deciding the championship this year.
Force India would like to better their last year’s performance in the Indian GP. Last year Adrian Sutil finished ninth and Paul di Resta 13th. This year they have Nico Hulkenberg in place of Sutil, and he has said that his immediate focus is to win the elusive podium for Force India. Red Bull is leading the constructor's standing with a margin of 77 points from Ferrari. Unless Red Bull comes up with a really poor performance, which is highly unlikely, not much of change is expected at the top position. Force India is at seventh position with 89 points and would like to catch up with Sauber, who are at sixth position with 116 points.
Only ten days are left in the kick-off to the final race of the Indian GP and the enthusiasm this year is no less than last year. The big success story of last season's inaugural Indian GP in Noida has increased the interest in F1 in India. F1 racing was always seen as an entertainment sport made for elites of the society. A sport where thousands of gallons of fuel are wasted in a race could never be seen suitable for India.
When Vijay Mallya formed Force India (now known as Sahara Force India), it seemed as if it was just an attempt to register his presence in F1 circuit. But it was more than that. The fact that an Indian team was participating in formula one further improved our chances of hosting a formula one race. Jaypee Sports International Ltd raced against time to get the Dollar 450 million Buddh International Circuit ready for the race, and though there were many concerns about the track the event went on smoothly. The 5.14 km long Circuit was designed by renowned German architect and racetrack designer, Herman Tilke, who has also designed other world-class race circuits in Malaysia, Bahrain, China, Turkey and UAE.
"F1 is as popular in India as cricket in France, but things will improve drastically in the years to come," this is what Bernie Ecclestone, the President and CEO of Formula One said after the end of the inaugural edition of Indian GP. Indeed, It is very difficult to make an expensive sport like F1 popular in a country that is obsessed with cricket. If more Indian drivers get to participate in F1 circuits, and organisers can do something to reduce the ticket price, F1 will surely have a big market in India.
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