YEONGAM -- Two-time world champion Sebastian Vettel drove one of his best races to win his first Korean Grand Prix and help his team, Red Bull, win the Constructor’s title at the Korean International Circuit on Sunday.

“Yes, yes, ten wins my friends,” Vettel shouted to the team radio as he crossed the finish line.

His 10th victory in 16 races means he is still in contention to tie the all-time season record of 13 wins set by Michael Schumacher in 2004.

The 24-year-old German started second on the grid behind Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, but he soon took the lead and dominated 55 laps to win the title in 1 hour, 38 minutes and 1.994 seconds. 

Hamilton, who went wheel-to-wheel with Vettel until the middle of race, finished second, 12.019 seconds behind Vettel.

And Red Bull’s Mark Webber took an impressive third to help the team win its second straight Constructor’s title.

McLaren’s Jenson Button was fourth ahead of Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in fifth. Ferrari’s second driver Felipe Massa was sixth, and Jaime Alguersuari of Toro Rosso came in seventh.

Seven-time champion Schumacher of Mercedes was forced to retire after colliding with Vitaly Petrov of Renault.

On Sunday, Vettel clocked the race’s fastest lap on his very last lap, delighting the more than 80,000 spectators at the 5.61-kilometer circuit.

“I think it’s good to see the whole team keep pushing. In terms of preparation for this race it wasn’t ideal, because I think the whole team was a bit tipsy after last week’s race,” Vettel said after the race.

“I felt I could’ve done better last week, and now I am very happy with how the race went today. It was a very good race from the start to finish,” he added.

Before his arrival here, many had worried whether Vettel, who secured last week the 2011 season title under his belt, would have an easy ride at the Korean Grand Prix.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)