Sebastian Vettel is the reigning Formula 1 world champion – the youngest in history, having secured the 2010 title in Abu Dhabi aged 23. Since then he has proved it was no fluke, utterly dominating the 2011 F1 season and repeating the feat in a thrilling 2012 finale in Interlagos to become the youngest ever triple world champion.
Vettel signalled his intent by taking a point on his debut at the 2007 US Grand Prix. He became the youngest grand prix winner in history when he won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix for Toro Rosso aged just 21 years and 73 days. He’d also become the youngest driver to take a pole position the day earlier.
The German's switch to the sister team Red Bull Racing the next year netted even more success. He took four wins en route to second place in the world championship, a position he bettered in each of the next three years.
Vettel’s Race Of Champions record is impressive too – with six ROC Nations Cup wins out of six attempts in the company of Michael Schumacher. His best finish in the individual event is the semi-finals so which he has reached twice.
Career Highlights
- Triple Formula 1 World Champion (2010, 2011, 2012)
- Youngest ever Formula 1 World Champion in 2010, aged 23
- Youngest ever driver to score a Formula 1 World Championship point (8th place on his debut, 2007 US GP, aged 20)
- Youngest ever driver to secure an F1 pole and win (2008 Italian GP, aged 21)
Other Achievements
2009: Runner-up in Formula 1 World Championship
2006: Runner-up in Formula 3 Euroseries
2005: Best Rookie in Formula 3 Euroseries, fifth overall with five podiums
2004: Formula BMW ADAC Champion with 18 wins and 20 podiums in 20 races
2003: Runner-up in Formula BMW ADAC Championship with 5 wins
2001: Winner of German and European Junior Karting Championships
ROC Highlights
2012: ROC Nations Cup Winner for Germany with Michael Schumacher for a record sixth consecutive year
2011: ROC Nations Cup Winner for Germany with Michael Schumacher
2010: ROC semi-finalist; ROC Nations Cup Winner for Germany with Michael Schumacher
2009: ROC semi-finalist; ROC Nations Cup Winner for Germany with Michael Schumacher
2008: ROC Nations Cup Winner for Germany with Michael Schumacher
2007: Debut in the Race Of Champions. ROC Nations Cup Winner for Germany with Michael Schumacher with Michael Schumacher