Vettel's push for Schumacher's record punctured at second corner

Abu Dhabi: Sebastian Vettel's domination at the Yas Marina Circuit ended in anti-climax leaving the young world champion unable to add a couple more records to his long list, while another former world champion was ecstatic with his podium finish.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso has two world titles to his credit and has been on the podium at every venue except Abu Dhabi, where he failed over the past two years. But with his second place finish behind Lewis Hamilton yesterday the Spanish ace said his collection is complete.

"What makes this podium special is that I have had 73 podiums and I only missed an Abu Dhabi trophy. So now with this second position I am happy my collection is complete," he said.

Vettel, who was bidding for a hat-trick of wins at Abu Dhabi as he sat in pole position, made a perfect start as he led to the first corner but at the very next he found himself spinning off the circuit after his right rear tyre deflated.

The German managed to drive to the pit lane but by then the damage had been done and with it his hopes of matching Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a season.

"At the exit of the first corner, everything seemed fine but when I turned in I tried to catch the car but I couldn't do it anymore and I spun off," Vettel told the BBC.

"We need to find out why, maybe I cut the kerb at a funny angle."

In the hunt

Alonso and Jenson Button followed Hamilton in second and third places respectively, to stay in the hunt for a runner-up place behind Vettel in the 2011 driver's championship.

"I am very pleased with this race result," Alonso said. "Good start and then fighting with Jenson Button and then fighting with Lewis Hamilton.

"I was pushing as hard as I could. I was fighting an individual race. I closed the gap when I could.

"We knew we could overtake the McLaren. We had the tyres to push another two or three laps.

"The team informed me that we had a bit of freedom to do so.

"With the traffic on the pit entry we lost the opportunity to be closer. But I do not think that we lost the race there. It was difficult to beat the McLaren. As simple as that."

Button, who is favourite for second in the drivers' championsip, said" "­I am pleased to be third [in the race]. I had some problems with my KERS and had to fend off Webber and Massa without KERS.

I had to keep reset my KERS. There is a lot of engine braking from KERS, not only from accelerating.

"I had a couple of good battles during the race.

"There was no warning to tell me that the DRS was not working so sometimes I was surprised. Including at Mark Webber's tactics. He made some strange decisions."