Vettel 'getting better and better'

That is the view of team principal Christian Horner, who thinks that Vettel's growing maturity has played a key role in helping keep the reigning world champion at the top of the Formula 1 rankings.

"He is really in great form," said Horner, after seeing Vettel take his second victory of the season in Malaysia.

"I think he was the coolest man in Malaysia on race day, because on the pit wall we were getting a bit hot.

"But when you spoke to him it all sounded totally under control and pretty relaxed. He is in a really good place, his confidence is high and he is really delivering.

"I think he is just growing in experience. It was a very mature performance from him and a very controlled drive, so I think he is just gaining experience. It is sometimes easy to forget that the guy is only 23 years of age."

Despite Vettel's run of form, Horner believes that Mark Webber will respond to the challenge from his team-mate and put the German under some pressure.

"I think Mark drove a really good race in Malaysia," explained Horner. "It was a good recovery. We made the right decision strategy wise to change immediately and go aggressive with him.

"Obviously he will be disappointed with the start but obviously we have spoken to him and he takes a lot of heart from this performance. To just miss out on a podium after the first lap he had was a great drive.

"Mark is old enough - and I would say ugly enough but he is not - to know how long the season is. These points are invaluable. In difficult weekends he has picked up a fifth and a fourth place finish, and they will all count at the end of the year. It was a great drive from him, a great performance, it was just a shame that he did not get the start that he or us wanted."