Monoposto

Nº 32

Sebastian Vettel

2010–13 World Champion

Red Bull Racing

Overview

Sebastian Vettel, born in Heppenheim, Germany, on 3 July 1987, won four consecutive World Drivers' Championships with Red Bull Racing, from 2010 to 2013.1 He was the youngest champion at the time in 2010, then the youngest double and triple champion.1

He first won at Monza in 2008 with Toro Rosso, then the youngest winner in the sport's history.1 He later raced for Ferrari and Aston Martin, and retired after the 2022 season.1

2010

Five wins, four points clear of Fernando Alonso

Leading only after the last race

An engine failure while leading in Korea left him chasing, and he went to the Abu Dhabi finale 15 points behind Fernando Alonso and seven behind teammate Mark Webber.1 He won from pole while Alonso finished seventh, and led the championship for the first time when it mattered most.12

Every Grand Prix finish, 2010

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

2011

Eleven wins, 122 points clear of Jenson Button

A record 15 poles

He won the first two races and clinched the title in Japan with four rounds to spare.1 He finished with 11 wins, 17 podiums from 19 races, a record 392 points and a then-record 15 poles.13

Every Grand Prix finish, 2011

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

2012

Five wins, three points clear of Fernando Alonso

Sixth from a first-lap spin

Four straight wins in Singapore, Japan, Korea and India turned the season.1 He started from the pit lane in Abu Dhabi after a fuel problem and still finished third.1

He led Alonso by 13 points at the Brazilian finale, spun on the opening lap, and recovered to sixth to win the title by three.14

Every Grand Prix finish, 2012

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

2013

Thirteen wins, 155 points clear of Fernando Alonso

Nine in a row

He won in Malaysia by passing teammate Webber against team orders.1 He clinched the title in India and closed the season with nine straight wins, a record at the time.1 His 155-point margin was also a record then.15

Every Grand Prix finish, 2013

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

6 photographs, in season order

Helmet

He chose number 5 for his career, and carried number 1 in 2014 as reigning champion.1 These show his helmet for each title year: a photo of the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix helmet, then drawings.

2010, his Japanese Grand Prix helmet.

Morio · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

2011

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

2012

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

2013

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

Four title cars

Each title came in a car from the Adrian Newey-led design team, and Red Bull also won the constructors' title in all four years.16 The RB9 scored 596 points in 2013.6

With the RB9 at Barcelona testing, February 2013.

Magic Aviation · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
2010
Red Bull RB6
2011
Red Bull RB7
2012
Red Bull RB8
2013
Red Bull RB9
RB9 engine
Renault RS27-2013
RB9 team points
596

Road to the title

  1. 2001Junior European karting champion.1
  2. 2004Formula BMW ADAC champion, with 18 wins from 20 races.1
  3. 2006Runner-up in the F3 Euro Series.1
  4. 2007Formula One debut for BMW Sauber at the United States Grand Prix, then joined Toro Rosso.1
  5. 2008First win, at Monza.1
  6. 2009Moved to Red Bull Racing.1
  7. 2015–22Raced for Ferrari, then Aston Martin.1

Records

  • Youngest champion at the time, aged 23 in 20101
  • Youngest double champion, 20111
  • Youngest triple champion, 20121
  • Nine straight wins, a record at the time, 20131
  • 15 poles in a season, a record at the time, 20111
  • Biggest title margin at the time, 155 points, 20131

Sources