Sebastian Vettel scorches to a new lap record in practice for the Indian F1 Grand Prix Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the first practice session at the Indian Formula One Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit. SEBASTIAN Vettel continued his dominance in India by edging out Red Bull teammate Mark Webber for the quickest time Friday in the opening practice session for the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix. Vettel began his quest to seal a fourth successive F1 title by scorching a new lap record at 1min 26.68secs, surpassing his own record of 1:27.24 set at the inaugural race at the Buddh International Circuit in 2011. The 26-year-old, enjoying a 90-point lead over his nearest challenger Fernando Alonso, only needs to finish in the top five in his Red Bull on Sunday to seal the title. Vettel's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, who leaves F1 at the end of the season, was only narrowly slower as he came in second at 1:26.87. Nico Rosberg of Mercedes was third at 1:26.89, followed by Romain Grosjean and Lewis Hamilton - all under the previous lap record - with McLaren's Jenson Button sixth and Felipe Massa seventh. Vettel, who has won the last five races this season, romped home easily in India in 2011 and 2012 and is strong favourite to triumph again on Sunday. Anything higher than a sixth-place finish and Vettel will join compatriot Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina as the only drivers to win four consecutive F1 titles. The only way Vettel can be denied is if he fails to score a point in the remaining four races - provided Ferrari's Alonso wins at least three of them and finishes second in the other. Victories in the last four races in India, Abu Dhabi, America and Brazil would also put Vettel level with Schumacher's 2004 record of 13 wins in a single season. Meantime, Alonso had a frustrating start to his weekend, completing just six laps before being forced into the pits with a gearbox issue and ending the morning with the 12th-fastest time. The drivers had trouble gripping the smooth Noida surface, with Williams driver Pastor Maldonado and McLaren's Sergio Perez both spinning out onto the grass at turn six before returning to the track without serious damage to their cars. Hamilton found himself briefly in the gravel after failing to take turn one on his 12th lap of the session, while Marussia's Jules Bianchi and Paul Di Resta also spun off. Tire supplier Pirelli has dropped the more durable hard compound tires for the Indian surface, instead opting for soft and medium options. RESULTS - Free Practice 1, Indian Formula 1 Grand Prix (90 min) Team Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Mark Webber Nico Rosberg Mercedes Romain Grosjean Lotus Lewis Hamilton Jenson Button McLaren Sergio Perez Felipe Massa Ferrari Nico Hulkenberg Sauber Valtteri Bottas Williams Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso Fernando Alonso Daniel Ricciardo Pastor Maldonado Adrian Sutil Force India Esteban Gutierrez Kimi Raikkonen James Calado Giedo van der Garde Caterham Jules Bianchi Marussia Charles Pic Max Chilton