Sebastian Vettel stays away from Red Bull Racing 2012 Indian Grand Prix promo events: Mark Webber and Gautam Gambhir play cricket

With great Indian Grand Prix scheduled for the 26th- 28th October weekned at Buddh International Circuit, Noida, Sebastian Vettel is keen to concentrate entirely on upcoming events. He has kept himself away from Red Bull Racing promotional events and it sure looks like the team has had to defer any other plans, promotions or activities as he readies himself for his trip to India.

Keen on securing a hat trick this year is his primary aim and would hence not like anything to be planned which would deter his focus in any way. Sebastian is currently in the lead at drivers’ table and is six points ahead of Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Sebastian, 25, won inaugural Indian Grand Prix a year ago and moved ahead of F1 drivers’ championships following his success in Korea seven days ago and is concentrating on his performance with just four races to go.

Sebastian is excited as he looks at the 17th round of F1 2012 World Championships. He likes the 5.125 km Buddh International Circuit located outside Delhi not only for the fact that this track has an excellent layout but also for the reason that at an average speed of 235 kmph the course is second quickest of the year after Monza. Today saw, Mark Webber and Gautam Gambhir play cricket at Noida International University.

Indian auto news release: Mark Webber and Gautam Gambhir face-off on cricket pitch

Just days before this weekend’s F1 Indian Grand Prix, Aussie driver Mark Webber swapped his racing suit for a pair of whites as he joined star cricketer Gautam Gambhir for an impromptu game of India’s favourite sport at Noida International University.

With a packed schedule featuring five races in just six weeks between late September and early November, most Formula One drivers dream of being able to get away from the sound of revving engines and the smell of burning rubber and relax for a few hours. Ahead of the second edition of the Indian Grand Prix, that is exactly what Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber managed to do as he slipped away from the pit lane to try his hand at the most popular sport among India’s huge 1.2 billion population – cricket.

Hailing from Australia, Webber is certainly no novice to the game – unlike teammate and reigning F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, who still impressed Australian national cricketers Brad Hodge and Peter Siddle with his skills during an impromptu cricket session on St Kilda Beach in the run-up to the season-opening grand prix in Melbourne. Joining Webber at the crease was Indian cricket star and national hero Gautam Gambhir, who this summer captained the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in the Indian Premier League.

“A trip to India is not complete without the delicious food and a game of cricket. Just like Formula One, cricket requires a lot of concentration and ability, especially under extreme conditions like you have here. As an athlete, I am always eager to try my hand at new sports. Today’s experience was great fun,” explained 36-year-old Webber, whose win at the 2012 British Grand Prix in July took his total number of wins in Formula one to nine.

“It’s not every day that you get to play cricket with a Formula One driver,” laughed Gambhir, who handed his bat to Webber and tried his hand at bowling. “I am looking forward to watching the Indian Grand Prix from the race circuit this weekend and seeing Webber and Vettel battle it out on the track.”

The second edition of the Indian Grand Prix is here and Mark Webber from Red Bull Racing team is all set to experience the flavors of India. Webber had a shot at playing India’s most loved sport, Cricket, with Red Bull athlete Gautam Gambhir at Noida International University, this afternoon.

The two Red Bull athletes pitted against each other and enjoyed a short spell of cricket. The game was nothing less than an exciting fun-filled afternoon with Webber trying to outdo Gambhir, while he continued to put up a strong fight. Webber said, “A trip to India is incomplete without the delicious food and a game of cricket. Cricket as a sport requires a lot of concentration and hand-eye coordination, especially under extreme conditions, and so does Formula One. As an athlete, I am always eager to try my hand at new sports and today’s experience made it worthwhile.”

“It was a rare experience of playing cricket with a Formula One athlete, Mark Webber. I am looking forward to watch the Indian Grand Prix from the race circuit, this weekend, with Webber and Vettel battling it out on the track,” Gambhir commented.