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2013 'not much different' to 2012 - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel: "I expect a very simular situation to 2012" © Sutton Images

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Sebastian Vettel expects the start of the 2013 season to be as unpredictable as it was in 2012.

There were seven different winners at the first seven races last year, with Williams' Pastor Maldonado taking a shock victory at Barcelona before Ferrari's Fernando Alonso became the first double winner of the season at the European Grand Prix in June. The title race eventually boiled down to a battle between Alonso and Vettel, with the Red Bull driver winning the title by three points at the final round in Brazil.

Speaking in an interview with the official Formula 1 website, the 2012 world champion said the upcoming season will once again start unpredictably before stabilising as it progresses.

"I don't think it will be much different from what was important last year," he said. "Again it will be very close, so it will not be a case of two or three drivers fighting it out. In the first half of the season I expect a very similar situation to 2012 where we saw many different winners. Then, in the second half, some favourites will become visible."

He also said that consistency rather than outright pace will once again be the key to Red Bull taking its fourth consecutive championship.

"To be one of them [the title contenders] you have to score points at every race and be consistent - that was what got us the title in 2012."

Vettel added that he feels the Red Bull RB9 is in a much better position that its predecessor was during winter testing last year.

"You can hardly compare the car that we have now to the one we had one year ago. What we have is more or less the same car that we had in Brazil - with some steps forward. But from a personal level I can say that I am much happier now than I was one year ago."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.