• Indian Grand Prix

Vettel comfortable being chased

Sebastian Vettel leads Fernando Alonso by six points © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Indian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Sebastian Vettel

• Teams:
• Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel says he is happy to be the man being chased in the drivers' championship having been behind Fernando Alonso for so long.

Having led the championship after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Vettel has not had a points advantage over Alonso since until his victory in Korea left him top of the standings. Vettel said that he was pleased to take over as championship leader but that he wouldn't be trying to defend that position between now and the end of the season.

"This is a better position to be in than the position we had three or four races to go, so obviously we'll try to do our best in the next couple of races to make sure we stay there," Vettel said. "But in terms of our approach etc I think nothing really changes. I think they will be extremely important races for us if you look at the championship table but as I said we have to try to do our best and then go from there."

Vettel also never led the championship until the final race of his maiden title-winning season in 2010 before enjoying a dominant 2011, but he said the slim nature of his advantage means he has to remain fully focused on victory at every race.

"To be honest I'm not thinking too much when you stand on the grid and wait for the lights to go off. It doesn't really matter to a certain degree which position you're in in the championship. Of course it's something you have in your head and you know but I think the most important thing is to get off the line, have a good start, have a good race etc.

"For sure if you are in a position where you have to score more points you have to ensure you finish ahead of ideally everyone or ahead of the one you're after. Equally if you're in the other position then you might afford here and there to not take the risk. We're in a good position but we're not in a position to lean back, so that's why I said we have to remain focused and push as hard as we can for the next couple of races to ensure that we stay where we are. I think that's the chance that we have. As soon as we start to think too much I think - I think, I think, I think - that's not good."

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