Formula One Features

PROFILE: Youngest champion Vettel steps out of Schumacher's shadow

By Christian Hollmann Nov 14, 2010, 20:07 GMT

German Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel (L) of Red Bull is congratulated by his compatriot Michael Schumacher (R) of Mercedes GP after winning the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 14 November 2010.EPA/JENS BUETTNER

   Abu Dhabi - Sebastian Vettel finally stepped completely out of the shadow of fellow German Michael Schumacher with victory Sunday in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix to become the youngest world champion the sport's history.

   Once named 'Baby Schumi' in his homeland, Vettel is now very much a true champion in his own right after lifting his first drivers' crown at age 23 years, 134 days.

   In only his third full season in F1, the carpenter's son from Heppenheim in the western federal state of Hesse adds the accolade to his previous achievements, including that of youngest driver to take a pole position and youngest winner of a GP race.

   'It was an unbelievably tough season for me, for all of us, both physically and mentally,' said Vettel after his win.

   'We always believed in ourselves and today is a special day for us all. It has been an unbelievable journey with Red Bull with the ups and downs of this season.'

   Vettel's mature performance in Abu Dhabi where he took pole in qualifying before maintaining his composure to seal the race win is in marked contrast to the hotheaded driving he displayed earlier in the season where he had a collision with team-mate Mark Webber and an incident with McLaren's Jenson Button.

   Although Vettel has lost quite a few points through his own mistakes, his title ambitions were also hampered by technical problems in several races. In three of them, he was holding a comfortable lead.

   Without such incidents, he would in all probability have clinched the title long before the final race of the season.

   Instead he went into the final race of the season trailing Ferrari's Fernando Alonso by 15 points and team-mate Webber by seven.

   However, while Ferrari erred by calling Alonso into the pits early to track the moves of Webber, eventually finishing down in seventh, Vettel stayed out and eventually sealed the race win and drivers' crown.

   Vettel's immense talent was apparent from the outset. He made his F1 debut in 2006 for BMW-Sauber at the US Grand Prix as a replacement for the injured Robert Kubica and his eighth-place finish there made him the youngest driver to earn a championship point.

   He joined Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso team in July 2007, replacing Scott Speed from the Hungarian GP onwards, and a year later became the youngest pole position holder by finishing top in qualifying for the Italian GP at Monza. He went on to win the race, the first of now 10 victories, earning him the 'Baby Schumi' moniker in reference to the seven-time champion.

   Vettel moved on to Red Bull in 2009 and, since then, the team has only thinly disguised its preference for the young Vettel over the 34-year-old Webber.

   The youngster's inexperience was clear for all to see when he crashed into Webber at the 2007 Japan race during a safety car phase, and although Vettel was later cleared from any wrongdoing in that incident, the reputation followed him around right up to Abu Dhabi this weekend.

   But all is now forgotten after Vettel secured his first drivers' title against the odds.

   'Sebastian's strength is that he makes the right decisions at the right time and can achieve the maximum from himself,' said Schumacher.

   'He's also a great human being.'