Abu Dhabi GP: Sebastian Vettel expects to escape donut fine

The Red Bull driver was fined for performing donuts and leaving his car after he took his fourth world title in the Indian GP.

But he believes things will be different this time.

"I brought the car back," he said. "I stuck to the rules - I hope we can provide a fuel sample because I burned some extra fuel.

"I spoke to the stewards after India, I was just happy. It is really nice with people all around and I think they loved it."

Vettel's dominant victory in Abu Dhabi is his seventh in a row, matching Michael Schumacher's record at Ferrari. Only Alberto Ascari has scored more, during the world championship's Formula 2 era in 1952-53.

Vettel claims, however, that records are not what motivate him.

"It is not what makes me jump in the car," he said. "The thing is that people see seven races, people don't see the challenge it takes every single race to nail it.

"I think it is exceptional we got everything right, the pitstops, the reliability. The numbers are not important to me but equally I am very, very proud. There are the most special drivers in the world in F1, I am old enough to realise.

"I remember when I was a small kid watching F1 and Michael was with Ferrari and dominating F1 and had a very strong car, and strong team spirit for many years.

"To equal some of the stuff he managed to achieve is very special, not just for me but the whole team. They were special years and difficult to repeat a season like that.

"It comes once in a lifetime, we can probably say it came across twice."