Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel favourite for South Korean Grand Prix

SEBASTIAN Vettel of Germany can extend his Formula One lead on Sunday at the South Korean Grand Prix over rivals including Australian Mark Webber.

Sebastian Vettel celebrates his win in the Singapore Grand Prix last month.

RUNAWAY Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel has the chance to put one hand on the world title on Sunday as he aims to stretch his astonishing winning streak to four races at the South Korean Grand Prix, although he may have a problem with the track layout.

Last month in Singapore, the brilliant young German left other drivers in his wake to move 60 points clear of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and ever closer to a historic fourth straight championship.

Alonso is the only man with a realistic chance of reeling in Vettel, although Australia's Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg are mathematically still in the hunt.

With six races left, a wipe-out from his rivals would leave Vettel capable of being crowned world champion next week in Japan, a triumph that would catapult him among the sport's greats.

Victory this year would make Vettel, 26, the youngest man to win four in a row, trumping Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio. Alain Prost is the only other man to win four or more titles.

Vettel's consecutive wins in Belgium, Italy and Singapore have not been universally popular and he has been unsportingly booed on the podium by a section of disgruntled fans.

The German, with seven wins in 13 grands prix this year, is also on a hat-trick in South Korea after winning the last two races at the Korean International Circuit in the country's rural south.

However, in what could provide a glimmer of hope for his rivals, Vettel admits the Yeongam layout is not perfectly suited to this year's Red Bull car, the RB9.

"The track in Korea has a bit of an unusual layout. The long straights all come right at the beginning and the turns are at the end," he said.

"I love the curvy part because it is a lot more fun, whereas the straight lines and sharp turns can be a little boring. They are also our weakness because we often lack in top speed there."

Webber will be hampered by a 10-place grid penalty for his third reprimand of the year after he abandoned his Red Bull and hitched a ride on Alonso's Ferrari following the race in Singapore.

"For (Alonso) and me to receive reprimands for our actions after the race it is comical to say the least," tweeted the clearly irritated Australian, who is quitting F1 this season.

AFP