Vettel wins to seize F1 lead from Alonso

Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany kisses his trophy after winning the South Korean F1 Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, Oct 14, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

YEONGAM, South Korea - World champion Sebastian Vettel won the South Korean Grand Prix in a Red Bull one-two finish on Sunday to take the overall Formula One lead from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with four races remaining.

Vettel's third win in a row, fourth of the season and 25th of his career, left him on 215 points with third-placed Alonso now on 209.

Australian Mark Webber, who had started on pole position but was overtaken by his teammate off the grid into the first corner, finished second to anchor the first one-two of the season by any team.

South Korea singer Psy waves the chequered flag to Formula One drivers finishing the South Korean F1 Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, Oct 14, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

South Korea's 'Gangnam Style' rapper Psy waved the chequered flag as Vettel crossed the finish line and thanked his team for a "great race, great job on the pit wall" before screaming in delight.

"The start was very important. we started from the dirty side," said Vettel. "I had a very good launch and could see that Mark was struggling a little bit. I was able to get side by side and then had the inside into turn one.

"It was a perfect start for myself," added the German, who spent the closing laps fretting about the tyres and making sure they held up.

With no need to attack his title-chasing team mate in the closing stages, Webber finished 8.2 seconds behind Vettel.

Starting fourth, Spaniard Alonso got ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton at the start but could not close the gap with the Red Bulls on an afternoon where the outcome was effectively decided in the first few seconds. He crossed the line 13.9 seconds behind Vettel.

"I think we have to be happy with the performance today," said Alonso, whose Ferrari team (290 points) overtook McLaren (284) for second place in the constructors' standings behind Red Bull (367).

"We are moving in the right direction. We just need a little last step to be as competitive as Red Bull."