A detailed profile of Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel – Formula 1
Sebastian Vettel is a 25-year-old German Formula 1 driver currently racing for the Austrian based Red Bull Racing team.
Vettel started his racing career through amateur Karting at an early age of 3. He started to take part in Karting series in 1995 by which time he was still only 8 years old. His junior racing career is full of race victories as he took part in many events
that include German Formula BMW championship, Formula Three Euro Series, World Series by Renault and Ultimate Masters of F3.
He began his F1 career by joining the BMW Sauber team from 2006 to 2007. He had initially joined as a third reserve driver and was confirmed as a test driver in 2007. When Sauber driver Robert Kubica was injured in a serious accident; he was replaced by
Vettel to compete in the United States Grand Prix. He broke the record of Jenson Button by becoming the youngest driver in F1 history to finish the race on the points grid.
In 2007, Vettel joined Red Bull’s sister team Toro Rosso. His one year with the team was a struggling one and he returned to Red Bull in 2009. He had been brought in to replace David Coulthard who had retired that year. He started the season with a strong
race. He continued to race with his present team into the next season and was successful at winning the drivers’ title that year becoming the youngest driver to do so as he was only 24 years old that time.
He also helped Red Bull win their first ever constructors’ title the same season. He continued his success the next season as well, winning the title again and becoming the youngest double champion in F1 history. Red Bull once again achieved the constructors’
title.
The driver is famously compared with legendry Michael Schumacher. Both drivers belong to Germany and Vettel is commonly dubbed as ‘baby Schumi’ or ‘new Schumacher’. The young driver is constantly speculated about that he will be breaking Schumacher’s record
of seven titles. Schumacher himself, who will retire this season, has confessed that the red bull driver is definitely capable of doing so and he will be pleased if he does.
Vettel has admitted to have Schumacher as his racing ideal when he was a child and also has been honoured to receive a trophy from the older driver when he had won a race in his junior career. The drivers are also said to be similar in the way they drive
and apply concentration during a race and their immense passion for the sport as they also take interest in the engineering of their car.
Both drivers competed together in the 2007 Race of Champions that took place at the Wembley Stadium representing the German team. Recently in 2011, the duo was successful at snatching their fifth consecutive Nations’ Cup title.
Vettel holds many ‘youngest’ driver records to his name. He has the most pole positions record scoring a total of 15 in his short career overcoming the one set by Nigel Mansell in 1992. He has led 739 laps which are more than any other driver in the sport.
He also set the fastest lap in BBC’s popular show Top Gear when he was a given a reasonable priced car.
Vettel is currently in his full fifth season with F1and is once again leading the drivers’ championship with only two more races to go until the season ends.
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