Vettel names success addictive as he looks ahead

By Christian Hollmann Oct 10, 2011, 11:23 GMT

Yokohama - Sebastian Vettel celebrated back-to-back Formula One world championship titles into the early hours of Monday before urging his Red Bull team not to rest on the latest heroics because his hunger for success is unbroken.

The rest of the world, meanwhile, was wondering whether the unstoppable Vettel can mount a serious attack on the various F1 records from fellow-German Michael Schumacher, most notably the seven world titles and 91 race wins.

Vettel, 24, clinched his second title on Sunday by coming third at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. He can not be caught in the final four races of the season even though his nearest rival Jenson Button won the race for McLaren.

Schumacher joined the Red Bull party in an Irish pub near the Suzuka course to congratulate his heir who was named 'Baby Schumi' in the early days of his career.

'He was my hero when I was a little boy on the cart tracks. To have a drink with him was very special,' said Vettel at a sponsor event on Monday in Yokohama.

'You must show respect when you talk about Michael. His achievements are unbelievable. We have to take it step by step. First of all we have to complete the season, and then come back stronger next year. We have to working very hard and keep our feet on the ground.'

Vettel still lags far behind Schumacher with 19 career wins and two world titles, but is hungry for more and said that Red Bull should also not rest on the current success.

'We are in a very special situation to have achieved this (the title). But that doesn't allow us to go on holiday,' Vettel said. 'We can not take anything for granted. It could all be over tomorrow.

'We are hungry. We want to compete. It is addictive. Nothing else in my life gives me so much satisfaction. You don't want it to stop.'

Former drivers and the media believe that Vettel has the class to attack Schumacher's records.

'Schumacher hadn't even won a first title when he was as old as Vettel is now. 'Baby Schumi' can dream of dethroning the greatest driver in history,' said French paper Le Figaro.

Britain's Daily Telegraph said Vettel 'can look forward to spending at least another decade at the top. If he carries on like this no one else is going to get a look-in. Even the 91 victories and seven world titles of his hero and compatriot Michael Schumacher, previously thought untouchable, may be in jeopardy.'

Former world champion Niki Lauda told Germany's Bild daily that he can also see Schumacher's marks under threat from Vettel.

'Sebastian and Red Bull have laid the foundations that he can win more titles than Michael Schumacher.'

Vettel is the only driver to have finished each race this season, winning nine, coming second four times, and third and fourth once each.

He has garnered 324 of 375 possible championship points, or 86.4 per cent, which beats Schumacher's ratio of 84.7 per cent from taking 144 of 170 points in his 2002 triumph.

Vettel will have to confirm this trend in the remaining four races. He will travel to South Korea on Wednesday for the next race on Sunday, in which Red Bull can assure themselves of back-to-back constructors' world titles.