Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel became Formula One’s youngest double world champion after he took third place in the Japanese Grand Prix.
Starting from pole, a muscular manoeuvre on his only remaining title rival, Jenson Button, gave the German the early lead before he was passed by Button and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. But third place was more than enough to clinch the world title for a driver who has dominated the 2011 season.
Vettel joins an elite club of back-to-back champions that includes Alonso, as well as his boyhood hero Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Jack Brabham, Juan Manuel Fangio and Alberto Ascari.
Over the team radio, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "Sebastian you're the 2011 world champion. Well done."
An emotionally charged Vettel sobbed back: "Thank you so much every single one, every single one. We took nothing for granted and we did it."
Full report, photos and more to follow...
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