Sebastian Vettel ( 3 July 1987) is a German Formula One racing driver, currently driving for Red Bull Racing. He is the current World Champion, having won in the 2010 season.
Vettel at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix | |
| Born | 3 July 1987 |
|---|---|
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  German |
| Team | Red Bull Racing |
| Car # | 1 |
| Races | 71 |
| Championships | 1 (2010) |
| Wins | 16 |
| Podiums | 28 |
| Career points | 585 |
| Pole positions | 22 |
| Fastest laps | 7 |
| First race | 2007 United States Grand Prix |
| First win | 2008 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2011 European Grand Prix |
| Last race | 2011 German Grand Prix |
| 2010 position | 1st (256 pts) |
In his first year driving for Red Bull in 2009 he finished the season as the youngest ever championship runner-up. Vettel also secured Red Bull's first pole position and race win in the team's history. The following year he went on to become the youngest driver ever to win the World Drivers' Championship. In the same year he helped Red Bull win the team's first World Constructors' Championship, along with teammate Mark Webber.
Vettel is the youngest Formula One driver to drive at a Grand Prix meeting, at 19 years and 53 days, and on his race debut at the 2007 US Grand Prix he also became the youngest driver to score championship points. While racing for Toro Rosso, Vettel became the youngest driver to lead a race, at the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix. During qualifying for the 2008 Italian
Grand Prix, Vettel became the youngest Formula One driver to secure pole position.He went on to win the race, making him the youngest F1 race winner by nearly a year.He also is the first and only driver to win a race, secure pole position, and reach the podium in the history of the Toro Rosso team, including the twenty years it was known as the Minardi team.
Vettel also holds the fastest lap-time for a Formula One driver on BBC2's Top Gear programme in the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment, with a lap of 1:44.0, beating previous holder Rubens Barrichello and the old Stig, Ben Collins.
At the European Grand Prix, the FIA began enforcing a controversial ban on engine mappings. It was believed by many in the press that it was an attempt by the FIA to thwart Vettel's domination of the season.The changes appeared to do little to hinder Vettel, as he took pole with the fastest qualifying lap in the track's history.He dominated the race with his first triple of 2011 with pole, fastest lap, and won his sixth race out of eight races. It was the first time in Formula One history where, in the first eight races, a driver finished first in six or more races and second or better in the remaining races. The second set of controversial mid-season changes were implemented at Silverstone, targeting the blown diffusers. Red Bull believed the changes cost them about half a second per lap.
Webber just edged Vettel for pole position by thirty-two thousandths of a second. On race day, Vettel made a better start, immediately took the lead and led the first half of the race. A delay at one of his pit stops gave the race lead to Alonso, who passed him in the pit lane, and dropped Vettel back to third, behind Hamilton. Despite a malfunctioning KERS unit, he was able to jump Hamilton in the stops and held off the faster Webber, who ignored a radio message from team principal Christian Horner to hold position, for second place, extending his lead in the championship.
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