Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has said that he is "very proud" to have overcome booing from fans to emerge victorious once again.

The German won yesterday's Indian Grand Prix by over half a minute, joining Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as only the third driver to claim four titles in a row.

However, the 26-year-old, who was booed on the podium at this year's Belgian, British and Canadian Grand Prixs, said that he felt 'hurt' not to feel the respect of the fans, although adding that he understands the reason why.

"It was very difficult for me personally to receive boos even though I hadn't done anything wrong," Sky Sports News quotes Vettel as saying. "To overcome that, and give my answers on the track, makes me very proud.

"It hurts not to get the reception that you expect, but at the same time I think I'm clever enough to understand why they do it. I'm not blaming them. Maybe if I was a fan of McLaren or Ferrari or one of the traditional teams, I wouldn't like it if the same guy won again and again.

"I think the most important things for me is to get the respect of people that I know and people that I race against. I feel respected amongst the drivers - surely you have to fight for that respect when you come in."

Vettel replaced David Coulthard at Red Bull in 2009.