Clinch time for Vettel in Singapore?

Singapore – Series: Formula One. Date: Sunday, September 25. turn temporary street course. Start Time: 8:00 a.m. (et). Laps: 61. Miles: 192.272. 2010 Winner: Fernando Alonso. Television: Speed.

Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull could wrap up his second consecutive Formula One world championship in this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

With six grand prix remaining, Vettel holds a 112-point lead over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Vettel's teammate, Mark Webber, and Jenson Button from McLaren are both 117 points behind, while Button's teammate, Lewis Hamilton, is 126 markers out of the lead.

To clinch the championship at Singapore, Vettel has to at least finish on the podium (first, second or third). If Alonso is on the podium for this race, Vettel cannot clinch it this week. He also can't do it if Hamilton wins.

Simply put, if Vettel leaves Singapore with a 126-point lead or higher, he clinches the title.

"Looking to the championship, there is still some way to go," Vettel said. "We are in a very strong position, which we deserve because we've been working hard and made few mistakes. As long as we come out of the next race with a bigger lead then we started with, then we have done a good job."

Vettel has finished second, third and fifth in the first three Singapore GPs.

"We've had some good races in Singapore in the past, especially last year when we finished second, just behind Fernando," he said. "I love the track. It's very challenging, and there are a lot of corners. It's very long, it's hot and it's a night race, so there are a lot of special things about Singapore.

"The car seems to be very competitive there, so I hope we can go back there this year and win. It would be very special."

Alonso will attempt to win in Singapore for the third time on Sunday.

"Of the races remaining, I think Singapore is probably the best one for our car characteristics," Alonso said. "I love the Singapore circuit, so the next race will probably be it."

Alonso's win in the 2008 inaugural Singapore GP -- the first-ever F1 race to run at nighttime -- came amid controversy. The Spaniard drove for Renault at the time. F1's governing body, the FIA, later accused Renault of conspiring driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to cause a deliberate crash in the early going to benefit the race strategy for Alonso, who had started 15th on the grid.

In what turned out to be one of the sport's biggest scandals, investigations by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council and officials from Renault determined then team principal Flavio Briatore and executive director of engineering Pat Symonds planned the crash. Renault avoided permanent expulsion from F1 competition when the FIA handed the French team a two-year suspended ban.