ON THIS DAY: VETTEL DOMINATES FIRST INDIAN GP AS HAMILTON AND MASSA TANGLE AGAIN

Sebastian Vettel claimed the inaugural Indian Grand Prix on this day in 2011 at the Buddh International Circuit, kicking off a perfect three-for-three record that would define the race's entire existence. The German won every edition before India dropped off the calendar after 2013.

The race's brief run epitomized F1's hit-or-miss expansion into new markets during that era. Some circuits stick for decades; others burn through their welcome in a handful of seasons. India fell into the latter category, leaving Vettel as the only name in the winner's column at Buddh.

The day also featured another tangle between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, per the headline—a rivalry that kept producing contact during those years. Vettel's dominance in India mirrored his broader reign at the time, when he and Red Bull were the combination to beat. The circuit's gone, but Vettel's undefeated streak there stays on the books.