Follow India's F1 debut with the most detailed updates you can find on the web. This should be a fun ride.

17:02 pm: It was easy in the end

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel ran away with the inaugural Indian Formula One Grand Prix for the double world champion's 11th victory in 17 races this season.

The 24-year-old German, who led every lap of the race after starting from pole position as well as setting the fastest lap, and his team have already won both championships.

Britain's Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, consolidated his grip on second place overall by finishing 8.4 seconds behind the German, while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso took third place a further 15.8 seconds adrift.

McLaren's 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa again collided, their sixth on-track clash of the season. The Brazilian was handed a drive through penalty for causing the collision and later retired with a broken front suspension. -- Reuters

16:37 pm: Red Bull all the way

'Well done Seb, you've won the first ever Indian GP. Well done,' that the team radio for Vettel. He's got it all. Fastest lap, most pole

position, most laps lead in a season and he's still got his sights on the Nigel Mansell's pole record and Michael Schumacher's most wins in a season (11) record. This was just super. Complete domination for Red Bull. Button was second, Alonso third, Webber next. Narain Karthikeyan finished 17th in his home Grand Prix. Tendulkar brought the flag down on what has been a wonderful race. It may have seemed like it like a lot of over-taking but it was actually pretty good fun. Mayawati to give Vettel the trophy. Duh!

On twitter, charlie_whiting puts it best: 'In a shocking upset, Sebastian Vettel wins the Indian Grand Prix from pole. #F1'

The moment of the race though was this: Rowan Atkinson's reaction to the Mass-Hamilton crash. Watch it on YouTube here.

16:32 pm: As cool as an Indian lassi

As cool as an India lassi, that's how the commentators describe. They're trying hard to get into the Indian spirit. But Vettel has been just toooo good.

16:27 pm: Schumi giving it his all

Schumacher team radio: "You are free to race. Keep it clean." Schumi just ahead of his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg. This is one of Schumacher's best races of the season. Good time to get it too. Good race for Mercedes too with both drivers heading for a points finish. Just 5 laps remaining in the first Indian GP.

16:19 pm: The final 10

Just 10 laps remain, Vettel still ahead. Button closing in. Can these guys battle and give the Indian GP a truly special finale?

16:11 pm: This is how Vettel does it

The German has lead from the start, done all the right things and even though Button gets the odd good lap, on the whole, he doesn't look like he'll catch Vettel in time. Just 15 laps remain.

Meanwhile on twitter, Jamesallenonf1 tweets: #f1 Vettel has set a new record for most laps led in an F1 season - past Mansell's 692 laps led from 1992.

16:06 pm: Vettel in control

After 40 laps, Vettel's lead is almost 5.3 seconds. But there is a good battle for third between Alonso and Webber. Both drivers have just had their second pit stops. This should be good to watch. Button set a new fastest lap of the race and takes 1.4s out of Vettel on the last lap.

And in case you missed Rowan Atkinson's response to the Mass-Hamilton crash. Watch it on YouTube here.

15:56 pm: The flutter returns

And Massa's front wing starts fluttering again and then it gets worse. The Brazilian limping around and out of the race. Front left suspension broken again ... not a great day at the Indian GP Office for him.

15:49 pm: Now for the long climb back

Hamilton is ninth for the moment, now chasing down Alguersuari in the Toro Rosso. Michael Schumacher ahead of Alguersuari. Meanwhile, Massa gets a drive-through penalty.

15:40 pm: Hamilton, Massa at it again

And Hamilton has caught up with his bete noire Massa thanks to a mistake by the Brazilian. The Ferrari went from one side of the track to the other just before turn 5, weaving as he tried to keep Hamilton at bay but eventually just crashed into him. Crazy stuff. Will Hamilton get hauled up for this too?

BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard on the incident: "I think because of the history between the two drivers this season, there could well be a penalty applied."

Meanwhile, Buemi pulls off to the side of the track with smoke coming from the back of the car. His good race is over.

15:39 pm: Catch me if you can

Lap 22: A new fastest lap for Sebastian Vettel, leading Button by 3.5s, the gap came down slightly through their pit stops. Things should get interesting now. Webber is third is 6.2 seconds behind Vettel.

Meanwhile on twitter, radha_ tweets: 'Auto drivers in bangalore are scoffing at F1.. they've been going round and round in city roads at high speeds for ages.'

15:29 pm: Into the pits

Lap 17: Webber pits, Alonso pits, Hamilton pits; Alonso came out behind Schumacher. This is pretty conservative from the teams. Vettel still comfortable.

15:25 pm: Button battles on

Button continues his charge as he pulls 1.6 seconds clear of Webber and slightly cuts Vettel's lead to 4.5 seconds. Of course, he sets the fastest lap too and because it's a new circuit, every fastest lap is a track record too. But Vettel still ahead and comfortable. Six seconds covers the top three, 10 the top five.

On twitter, Lol @madmenweb: 'They should do a reality show of F1 drivers spending two weeks in Bangalore and driving over our roads. Most entertaining.'

15:19 pm: This is F1

theunsocialguy tweets: 'Good thing about F1 happening in India is that now everyone in my family knows what F1 is and they are watching it.'

Karthikeyan dropping back to 19th. But there's no stopping Vettel. He's lapping around the circuit much faster than the other. All that talk of Red Bull giving team orders to let Webber win seem very far-fetched now.

15:15 pm: Karthikeyan up to 16th

The only India on the track is in going to be in a battle of his own. He is 16th and loving every moment. This is good for India and for him. Meanwhile, Vettel is in complete command at the moment, almost 4 seconds ahead of Button in second. This is going to be a long race; this is going to be a strategic race.

15:04 pm: Vettel leads, Button in pursuit

Vettel has a clean start moved into the lead. As usual. But Alonso had a bad start -- went wide, allowed Button to move ahead of him. The Briton then worked his way past Webber. This should be fun. With the two DRS Zones, let's hope this gets as dramatic as possible. Super start for Schumacher, though, up from 11th to eighth.

15:02 pm: History is made

And the Indian Grand Prix is on!

15:00 pm: 24 cars on the track

Cars taking their warm-up lap around the circuit, two DRS zones, lots of overtaking opportunities, a big crowd. This should be a lot of fun.

14:45 pm: Change in the grid

By the way, a change in Narain Karthikeyan's starting position. Virgin's Timo Glock will now starting 22nd, rather than last 24th as was announced by the FIA on Saturday, with HRT's Daniel Ricciardo and Karthikeyan dropping back one place to 23rd and 24th respectively.

14:19 pm: Things are starting to heat up

BBC Sport's Sarah Holt on Twitter: "The drivers are being paraded round the circuit in the back of classic cars. Nice royal wave from Fernando Alonso. I'm reliably informed by old car expert David Tremayne that Alonso is in a Lagonda. The car's slowing down though, hope that's not an omen."

14:07 pm: Time to crack it

So far Delhi has had it's fair share of problems in the build-up. But the interest for the first Grand Prix is pretty crazy. But still there are enough doubters around. No better way to make them sit up and notice than to come up with a cracker of a race. No pressure on Formula One but you've got to totally rock it here... not like Metallica though.

13:54 pm: Formula 1 galas and Lady Gaga: against a backdrop of poverty

A lot of talk about whether India really needs Formula One. It's expensive. It's elite. Some question whether if it's even really a sport. The Washington Post has an interesting article on the debate:

"Some analysts say that it is a cruel irony that the tracks are built to perfection while the rest of India settles for driving on potholed, rollercoaster roads. (The mandatory requirement of a six-lane highway from the airport to the track was waived for India’s inaugural Grand Prix.) Others bemoaned what they called the misplaced priorities and superficial showcasing that India’s recent economic growth has come to symbolize, in spite of deep poverty and chronic malnutrition."

To read more, click here...

12:57 pm: The risks of racing

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has said he accepts the risk of dying in a Formula One car as he follows his passion for racing to the limit.

On an Indian Grand Prix weekend where the sport is remembering IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon and MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli, both killed in races in the last two weeks, Hamilton faced his own fears head on.

"Everyone will have (Wheldon and Simoncelli) in their minds," the 2008 world champion told British newspaper reporters ahead of Sunday's race.

"But you have got to do what you do because you love it. It is a sacrifice and a risk that we all take. No one wants to be in those situations but, for me, if I was to pass away, I cannot imagine a better way, personally," said the 26-year-old.

"I have always said if I was going to go, then in a racing car would be the way to do it. It is what I love." -- Reuters

12:25 pm: The two biggest stars meet

In the days leading up to the Grand Prix, Sachin Tendulkar was quoted as being very excited that the F1 circus is finally coming to India.

"I am excited about Indian Grand Prix F1 race. I will support the Force India team. I have friends like Michael Schumacher but I will support Force India because that is the Indian team and country comes first," Tendulkar had said.

But the first thing Tendulkar, who will wave chequered flag, did after arriving at the circuit was go straight to MercGP garage to meet Schumacher. Hmmmm.... interesting. Changing lanes already?

Among other cricketers present will be Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman and England's Kevin Pietersen. Tennis star Sania Mirza is also expected to be present too.

Bollywood is expected to be represented by Shah Rukh Khan, Arjun Rampal, Hrithik Roshan, and Abhishek Bachchan among others.

Watch a video with Michael Schumacher:



12:18 pm: Let the countdown begin

Edd Straw, F1 Editor of AUTOSPORT magazine, has already begun the countdown on twitter: Just under three hours to go until the race. Air temperature is 29C and track temperature is 37C.

1052 am: The calm before the storm - Sirish Chandran

It's 10:52 and everything is silent in the paddock. Team personnel stride about with a determination in their step, a few guest trundle in wondering where all the action is, photographers discuss good vantage points, even outside the circuit in the dusty pit where all the Indian media OB vans are parked things are remarkably calm. Traffic is light. But in half an hour the cars will be out and racing will commence. The MRF support series cars will be out first, then the JK Asia series and finally at 3 Formula 1 cars. Formula 1 cars!!! What a day for India!

1043 am: Hot, dusty and MEGA

That's the verdict from Team Lotus. The team's official twitter account tweeted this out: 'Namaste from BIC on race day at the first Indian GP. It's going to be hot, it's going to be dusty and it's definitely going to be MEGA!'

1037 am: May the Force be with you

Force India are likely to announce their 2012 driver line-up within a week or two, the Formula One team's co-owner Vijay Mallya said. German driver Adrian Sutil, who could be replaced by compatriot Nico Hulkenberg alongside Britain's Paul di Resta, has asked Mallya for a quick decision.

"I made it very clear that I would decide by December. However, since I have been requested to decide earlier, I would respect that need and take an early decision," Mallya told reporters after qualifying for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.

1032 am: The noise and the sights

BBC reporter Lee McKenzie was discovering a whole new India, she tweeted: "Last night went out for a walk in Noida.The noise and sights amazing,cows on street, chickens being killed and bought and a huge food market"

1026 am: Fluttering wing, fluttering heart

If you want to find out just why Ferrari rider Felipe Massa's front wing was fluttering, read this. It seems like Ferrari is using the last few races of the season to experiment and see how their new innovations hold up on track. The first wing wasn't too good, it was replaced by another wing which was better. But then Massa crashed and it may force Ferrari to go back to the first 'fluttering' wing.

1009 am: Making a point

Industrialist Anand Mahindra makes a valid point on twitter: The F1 is a turning point. I see Indians becoming the most car-crazy&car-knowledgeable people on earth..Now,let's build those roads..

0943 am: It's finally here - Sirish Chandran

Formula 1 is in India! Today's the big day and all roads in Delhi lead to the Buddh Circuit. The city is buzzing with F1 fever, far more than anybody would had expected. Can you believe it there are even Air

India F1-themed billboards!!! Didn't even dream this day would come!

0940 am: Dusty again

On twitter, the veteran Reuters F1 correspondent Alan Baldwin tweets: Very dusty and hazy at the circuit today. You can even smell the dust in the press room.

Hmm, let's hope the dust clears by the time race starts. Or this could turn out to get a very different GP -- part GP, part rally.

0930 am: Thank you Dear Times

Woke up with a chuckle in the morning thanks to the Times of India lead headline: All Set For Lap Dance. Someone was excited. Need one say more!!

0920 am: The Early Bird...

...gets to the venue on time. That's what Jon Noble decided to do. He tweeted: There is talk of 100,000 spectators at the Indian GP today, so made sure to beat the traffic. Now the work starts.

0910 am: For those who came in late

Here's a look at what the starting grid looks like. Vettel at the head once again.

1. Sebastian Vettel

2. Jenson Button

3. Mark Webber

4. Lewis Hamilton

5. Fernando Alonso

6. Felipe Massa

7. Paul Di Resta

8. Nico Rosberg

India's Narain Karthikeyan starts dead last after being penalised for impeding Michael Schumacher.