Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit, clocking a time of 1:24.178. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton qualified second, and Vettel's teammate Mark Webber took third. Vettel, already crowned world champion, expressed his excitement for the race and praised the track. India’s Narain Karthikeyan, driving for HRT, finished 22nd. During qualifying, there were concerns about dust clouds on the track that could affect visibility, and several teams, including Red Bull, praised the track’s design. The race marked the 17th of the season, with two more races remaining.
A tragic incident occurred on Sunday when an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed during a routine training mission in Porbandar, Gujarat. The crash, which took place at the Coast Guard Air Enclave, claimed the lives of three crew members, including the two pilots. According to officials, the helicopter experienced technical difficulties at around 12:10 pm, leading to the crash. All three crew members were initially rushed to a hospital in critical condition, but despite efforts, they succumbed to their injuries. Two were declared dead upon arrival, while the third died later. The crash, which occurred near the runway, caused a fire that was quickly contained by emergency services. The incident follows recent upgrades to the ALH fleet, which were intended to address previous safety concerns. The Indian Coast Guard is currently investigating the cause of the crash.