Vettel said he will keep his head down and focus on his job and nothing else in Sunday's United States Grand Prix after claiming pole on Saturday to move within sight of a record third consecutive drivers world title.
The 25-year-old German, who blitzed to a dominant pole for Red Bull,
shrugged aside all other issues including the plight of his championship rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, stressing that it is best to concentrate on the job in hand – clinching a third successive constructors' title for Red Bull.
Vettel will start his 100th Formula One race from the 36th pole of his career and sixth of the season ahead of Lewis Hamilton of McLaren with his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber third.
Alonso, a two-time former champion, will start eighth knowing he has to finish in the top four to stop Vettel taking the title.
Vettel said, "There's not much to feel. We have to look after ourselves...."
Grosjean penalised
Lotus F1's French driver Romain Grosjean was demoted by five places on the starting grid due to having to change his car's gearbox prior to qualifying.
Penalties also looked possible for Webber and Schumacher for missing a weight check and blocking, respectively. Webber was, however, let off with a reprimand while no action was taken against Schumacher
Alonso up to seventhSebastian VettelAt the time of going to press, it was reported that Ferrari opted to change the gearbox on Felipe Massa's car, which dropped the Brazilian to 11th on the starting grid, but more crucially moved teammate Alonso up to seventh on the Circuit of Americas starting grid.
Drivers who had qualified in even number grid slots are believed to be at a grip disadvantage as compared to those on odd number grid slots.
Team engineers had reportedly stated that those starting on even number grid slots were at the risk of losing two places at the start of the 56 lap race around the brand new circuit that is yet to be used for a motorsport event.
Perez close to home
Mexico's Sergio Perez is nowhere near the top of the points standings, yet he might be the most popular driver at the US GPwith the race so close to his native country.
"I feel very happy to be so close to home. I left Mexico at a very young age. All these (other drivers), they always do a race to two during the year in their own countries and they have done all their careers in their countries," Perez said.
"I will have all my family, even my grandmother is coming here, my friends ... plus lots of Mexican fans."