Brazilian GP: Red Bull sure only bad luck can stop Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel only needs to shadow title rival Fernando Alonso in the Brazilian season finale to secure the Formula 1 crown, and his chances look good having outqualified both Ferraris.

But with a threat of rain for the race, and Interlagos having often thrown up surprises in the past, Red Bull is taking nothing for granted.

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who will watch the race from his home in Austria, thinks everything is under control as long as his team does not get unlucky.

When asked about Vettel's chances for the race, he said: "I guess they are pretty high because Sebastian has a perfect car and a 13-point lead.

"We do not need luck to win this championship. We just need no bad luck."

Mateschitz has high praise for the job that Red Bull has done, having turned around a difficult start to the season to produce an end of campaign charge that allowed Vettel to overhaul a 40-point deficit to Alonso.

Click here for a video analysis of Red Bull's game-changing upgrades

"This means very much," he said about a season that earned Red Bull a third-straight constructors' championship.

"Adrian Newey and his team gave the drivers a championship-winning car for the third year in a row. This confirms that Red Bull Racing is technically the best team on the grid."

He added that a third title would be especially sweet given the jibes about Red Bull's F1 status made by some rivals.

"I will enjoy it and remember the words of [Lewis] Hamilton who once said, 'they're only a drinks company'," said Mateschitz.

CHAMPIONSHIP PERMUTATIONS

VETTEL WINS THE TITLE IF:

- He finishes in the top four
- He finishes fifth, sixth or seventh and Alonso doesn't win
- He finishes eighth or ninth and Alonso is third or lower
- He finishes 10th or worse and Alonso isn't on the podium

ALONSO WINS THE TITLE IF:

- He wins and Vettel is fifth or lower
- He is second and Vettel eighth or lower
- He is third and Vettel is 10th or lower