Vettel, Alonso take opposing approaches to 2013

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel and his chief rival Fernando Alonso enter this weekend's season opener with opposing views about recent history — one is trying hard to ignore it while the other is using it as a spur.

Red Bull's Vettel enters this season with three straight world championships under his belt and is aiming for a fourth, while Ferrari's Alonso has gone into the final race with a chance of snatching the drivers' title twice in those three years only to come away empty handed.

Yet it is Vettel who is eager to forget the past.

Asked Thursday how he is approaching the task of winning a fourth straight title, Vettel said simply; "The secret is not to think about what happened the last three years."