If you're at the top, there are whole lots of 'enemies' wanting to cut you down. Stopping your further charge becomes the common aim of all.
That seems to be the dominating emotion along with the central question, 'can anyone stop Sebastian VettelIJ,' occupying the mind. What the German has been this year is nothing short of a phenomenon, even though he has been cheered and jeered. The Red Bull driver sits pretty with a 90-point difference between him and the next contender Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in the driver's table with four races to go (297 and 207 points respectively).
This came about through nine race wins out of a total sixteen in the season, including four consecutive ones — Belgium, Italy, Singapore, South Korea and Japan — in the last five. This has brought him on the brink of a fourth consecutive world title. Even a place as low as fifth this Sunday would be sufficient. And, in the Indian Grand Prix, he has not lost a single lap. He had a start to finish first position in both the inaugural editions in 2011 and in 2012.
With the current form, and trend, it would be a surprise if Vettel doesn't win it. But the world champion is not in any hurry to do so. He believes winning title is important, not the place. He is also aware that once again, he would be at the centre of things.
"Everyone is going to try their best to stop us. It is going to be a tough weekend as the others are going to push us," the defending champion said during a media session at the Red Bull team building here at the Buddh International Circuit on Thursday.
And rightly so, because there are people eager to stop him and they have ideas.
"I think I have to do a bit better in qualifying. That would help a lot. That would give us a good chance then to try to beat them. It's not just only them though," third placed driver lotus Renault's Kimi Raikkonen said during an FIA press conference on Thursday, clearly indicating who the target is.
Kimi though at best can challenge his future teammate (Raikkonen is due to join Ferrari in 2014) for a second place in the drivers' position.
"Well, I'm here to do that (beat Vettel). I have a very good car at the moment. I think the Red Bull (car) is a bit quicker than us but you never know. If we really get everything right on a weekend like here in India then it's possible to beat Mark and Sebastian in that car. That's what I'm here to do," was Nico Rosberg of Mercedes Petronas reacting to the same query. Rosberg is presently sixth in the driver's standings with 126 points.
Alonso though was a little circumspect. He said Vettel winning the championship is just a matter of time. "For a top result these days, one needs a good performance for the pole but I don't think we have a car capable of that."
"ItRss a matter of time when he wins and I think he will win the remaining four races. We will try to be as close to him as possible for the podium. Hopefully, in remaining races I will try to get podiums, enjoy the ceremony, some champagne, the trophy. It does not matter if he wins here or in Abu Dhabi, it's his problem. I don't think he'll be defensive also. That could have been a possibility if he was in the situation at the end of the season" the 2005 and 2006 champion added.
Vettel's teammate Mark Webber thinks that only perfection now can stop the Bull run. "It needs a perfect weekend pole, perfect race, perfect strategy, perfect everything to obviously put him off the top step, so that's got to be the plan," he said.
Vettel though, is calm about it. A chirpy self on Thursday, he said that he was not looking way ahead than the race to come but at the same time, he was happy the World Championship could come soon.
"Things are looking good but we are focused on the job at hands for the weekend. It's nice to have the opportunity (to win world title) but I am not trying to focus on that, the focus is on the race. Most important part is that we win the Championship, it does not matter where and when," the champion made the point.
For some time now, Formula One has been about Vettel. Thursday was no different.