Abu-Dhabi Grand Prix: The kid beats the men to secure Formula One championship.
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is now the youngest Formula One champion, accomplishing the feat at the age of 24 years and four months. It is a remarkable achievement, at a remarkable age. Vettel controlled the season-ending Abu-Dhabi Grand Prix from start to finish, capping off a remarkable season. In Sunday’s grand prix Vettel could have won the championship only if Ferrari’s Alonso finished below the first five positions and that is precisely what happened.
"To come here, we were always believing in us in the car and I kept believing in myself”, Vettel said after winning the World Championship.
No one was certain about the winner throughout the F1 season. It remained neck and neck during the entire season, with several ups and downs for every driver and Vettel had some high quality opposition. His competitors included the likes of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Mark Webber. To come out on top against these drivers is an act of brilliance and determination. Of course, Vettel was equipped with a fast car, which gave him an edge, but so was Mark Webber. Red Bull’s cars were phenomenal. Thus Vettel delivered when it mattered. It would be safe to add that it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the German. He had his share of technical problems and bad press but he never lost sight of the main goal, to drive at his best.
Vettel performed particularly well on Saturdays and secured 10 pole positions along with four front-row grid slots. In Bahrain a faulty spark cost him a comfortable victory. In Australia a malfunction with the rear brakes caused him to retire from the race. He finally made a breakthrough in the Malaysian grand prix, grabbing his first win of the year. He managed a second place finish behind team-mate Mark Webber in Monaco, and Webber gained momentum over Vettel after he won the Spanish grand prix.
Vettel’s victory was short lived as he spiralled into controversy at the Turkish grand prix. He collided with Webber on an attempt to pass his team-mate. This caused him to retire. He could only manage a fourth place in the Canadian grand prix and in Germany a certain victory was transformed into a third place finish due to a penalty. At this moment Alonso seemed to be a reliable contender for the championship. Vettel’s crash in Belgium gave way for some bad press. He was becoming popular as the ‘crash kid’. Vettel somehow managed to stay focused and stayed on track for his first World Championship.
He started to gather some momentum after finishing second in Singapore. He won the Japanese Grand Prix and was on a roll. He was within touching distance of first place in Korea but his car had other things in mind. Red Bull suffered an engine failure, and Vettel failed to finish the race.
He became a serious contender for the title after securing a win at the Brazilian grand prix. The win put the championship within his grasp. The final stage was set. Four drivers were determined to win the championship, with Alonso leading, followed by Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. For Vettel to win Alonso had to finish outside the first five positions. From pole to the finish line, Vettel remained in control ensuring he won the title.
In the post-race conference Vettel said “I knew that the only thing I could do was to win the race and try my best. As you say, we have only led this championship once and when it mattered.”
The outcome could not have been foreseen. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel went on to become the new F1 champion. He only had a modest chance. He was never leading until the very last race. He did it with the help of brilliant driving and a little assistance from fate. Vettel made an impression and worked hard to come out on top, he is a deserving champion.
Tags: