Sebastian Vettel Becomes Youngest Champion In Grand Prix
For Sebastian Vettel it's been a remarkable run for this talented racer ever since entering the pinnacle level of motorsport. This season he had an impressive ten pole positions. His five victories came in Malaysia, Europe, Japan, Brazil, and Abu Dhabi.
His efforts, along with those of his teammate Mark Webber, propelled the RBR-Renault (Red Bull Racing) team to the Constructors Championship. Vettel, as top driver, ended the 2010 Grand Prix season with 256 points. The Red Bull team finished the season with 498 points.
In his short F1 career, Vettel has made it onto the podium 19 times. He has amassed a grand total of 381 points to date. He has maneuvered a hi-tech F1 car through a total of 62 races.
Sebastian Vettel was born in Heppenheim, Germany, in 1987. His father Norbert engaged in hill-climb racing and karting events. Sebastian's older sister, Stephanie, also drove karts in 1993 and 1994. In fact, at three and a half years of age, Sebastian received a kart as a Christmas present.
The road to Formula 1 glory for Sebastian Vettel began in his karting days. He began racing karts in 1995. In 2001, he won the German and European Junior karting titles.
In 2003, Vettel moved up to open-wheel car racing. That year saw him claim second place in the Formula BMW ADAC championship. This was after winning five of the 19 races in the series.
In 2004, he had stellar performances in this series. He finished the season as Formula BMW ADAC champion. He finished on the podium in all 20 races. Of note is the fact he won 18 of those races.
The year 2005 was another big step for Vettel in his march to the Formula 1 grid. He raced in the Formula 3 Euro Series and ended up fifth. He secured five podium positions and subsequently received the best rookie driver award.
Vettel earned himself a Formula One test drive with BMW Williams in 2005. This took place at the Jerez circuit in Spain. He then went on and did testing for the BMW Sauber team.
In 2006, Vettel was runner-up in the Formula Three Euro Series. He garnered three victories in this series. He competed in three World Series by Renault events, and won two of them.
Another feather in his cap was the fact that he became BMW Sauber's Friday test and reserve driver. He became BMW Sauber's third driver at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. In his testing debut, he set the fastest time in the second Friday Free Practice.
The year 2007 was a breakthrough year for Sebastian Vettel. He became Formula 1's youngest point scorer finishing eighth at the United States Grand Prix at Indy. He took the place of BMW's Robert Kubica who received serious injuries at the Canadian Grand Prix.
In 2007, Vettel secured a full-time drive with team Toro Rosso from August's Hungarian Grand Prix onward. He earned Toro Rosso their best result to date with his fourth place at the Chinese GP.
The year 2008 was Vettel's first full season of Grand Prix racing. He became Formula 1's youngest winner. This was with an incredible victory at Monza in Italy, in wet weather.
He finished the season eighth overall with 35 points. For his efforts and talent, he received a promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull's 'senior' RBR team for the 2009 GP season.
In 2009, Sebastian Vettel continued his development as a top-notch F1 driver, coming in second in the Drivers' Championship. He took pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix, and ended up winning the race. He also won at Silverstone in Britain and at Suzuka in Japan. He also won at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In the 2010 F1 season, Vettel's average grid position was 1.95. This is in comparison with Mark Webber's 2.79. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso's average starting position was 5.79, behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and in Monaco he had the fastest lap.
Vettel was in the lead during races for more than 2000 kilometers. This is in comparison to less than 1500 kilometers for teammate Mark Webber. Alonso ranked fourth in this category.
Sebastian Vettel is receiving consideration as a possible contender for the 2011 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award. He also received a nomination for the 2010 Brain of the Year award, to take place in China. This is along with personalities such as JK Rowling, Roger Federer, James Cameron and others.
Tony Buzan, inventor of Mind Maps, founded the Brain Trust Brain of the Year awards in 1991. He is a globally acclaimed lecturer and author on the brain, its power, and potential.
Since winning the F1 crown, Sebastian Vettel has been busy. He recently demonstrated his Red Bull car on the streets of Berlin in Germany. He also raced in Dusseldorf with F1 great Michael Schumacher. They clinched their fourth successive Nations Cup title at the annual Race of Champions (ROC) event.
Young, energetic, daring, and smart, Sebastian Vettel is no doubt planning and priming for the 2011 GP season. With another year of experience under his belt, he can only get better. He understands what it takes to grind out a season to become an F1 champion. He will have to stay at the top of his game, as hosts of drivers are in his rearview mirror wanting that crown as well for next year.
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