Heidfeld doubts Vettel to secure title in Singapore
Global Motorsport Media
Nick Heidfeld on Friday said he is not so sure his countryman will be crowned champion at the end of the Singapore grand prix weekend.
German Sebastian Vettel only needs 13 extra points to win his second consecutive title with five races to go in 2011.
But in Singapore practice, the 24-year-old - although quickest - was trailed by just a couple of tenths by two-time Singapore winner Fernando Alonso.
Ferrari's Alonso, albeit 112 points behind, is Vettel's nearest championship challenger, even though he answered "yes" on Thursday when asked if he has written off his chances of chasing down the leading Red Bull before Brazil's finale.
"Alonso was second today with quite a bit gap behind him," Heidfeld, in Singapore to look around for a race seat for 2012, told the German broadcaster Sky. "So I don't think he (Vettel) will get it."
Heidfeld, of course, was referring to Vettel's chances of wrapping up the title this weekend, as he needs to win and then depend on Alonso not appearing on the podium on one of the Spaniard's favourite circuits.
"It is not really up to Sebastian," Heidfeld insisted. "He is doing a fantastic job and I expect him to do well here."
Alonso was second today with quite a bit gap behind him
Vettel's title, if he wins on Sunday, also depends on Jenson Button or Mark Webber not finishing the race in second place. "It's really up to what the others do," added Heidfeld.
Former Renault driver Heidfeld, meanwhile, has been linked with a switch to the DTM series with BMW for 2012.
"That (DTM) is definitely an option or an alternative, should I find no reasonable place in Formula One," he admitted. "I have always said that I could imagine it after I am finished in F1."
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