He's Formula One's youngest race winner and the first man to score victories for both Scuderia Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing. Here's the A-Z of everything you need to know about the man from Heppenheim...
A for A-levels: In 2006 Sebastian Vettel ended the Formula 3 Euro Series in second place. Between the races he found time to do his A-levels.
B for BMW Sauber: Sebastian took his first steps into the Formula 1 circus in 2007 as test and replacement driver in the BMW Sauber team. He also competed in his first Grand Prix for the Bavarians.
C for Christian Horner: The Brit has been the team manager of Red Bull Racing from the beginning on. Since 2009 he’s also now Sebastian’s team manager.
D for diffuser: At the beginning of the 2009 Saison 2009 the Formula 1 teams were split into two camps – the ones with the doubledeck diffuser and the one without. With good performances above all in the qualifyings, Red Bull Racing proved that they were the best team without ‘wonder diffusers.’
E for Ecclestone, Bernie: The British Formula 1 big shot regards Sebastian Vettel as a future world champion. ‘The lad is definitely going to become world champion. It’s just a question of when,’ Ecclestone is quoted as saying in the British press.
F for faux pas: The organizers of the Chinese Grand Prix suffered a major embarrassment. Instead of playing the Austrian national anthem – Red Bull Racing is an Austrian team – the British anthem was played. Austrian team consultant Dr. Helmut Marko was not happy ...
G for girlfriend: Sebastian Vettel’s girlfriend usually roots for the ambitious RBR star from afar. In contrast to many of his colleagues, Hannah doesn’t accompany him around the world.
H for Heppenheim: Sebastian was born on July 3, 1987, in Heppenheim.
I for Indianapolis: Sebastian Vettel made his debut in Formula 1 on June 17, 2007 as replacement for the injured Robert Kubica. Vettel finished his first Grand Prix a sensational eighth – as the youngest driver ever in Formula 1 history to score points.
J for Junior Team: Sebastian Vettel was a member of the Red Bull Junior Team and was thus the first driver of the Red Bull junior program to win a Formula 1 race.
K for kart: Like almost every current Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel also began his racing career in karting. At the tender age of three-and-a-half Sebastian put on a helmet and got behind the wheel of a kart.
L for Lauda, Niki: ‘I lift my cap to Sebastian.’ With these words the three-time Formula 1 world champion paid tribute to the 21-year-old German after his victory in Shanghai with the greatest respect. In the last 33 years Lauda has only seldom been seen without his red cap on.
M for Monza: At the Italian Grand Prix 2007 Sebastian Vettel celebrated his first Formula 1 victory. Back then he was still driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso.
N for Newey: With the RB5 Adrian Newey achieved great success. Sebastian Vettel knows how to get more out of this car than many others. ‘It’s too tight,’ commented team-mate Mark Webber about the Germans car setup. Despite this, Webber tried Vettel’s setup and came in second in Shanghai.
O for Oulton Park: Oulton Park is an English racing circuit that holds one of the most important invitationals every year: the Oulton Park International Gold Cup. Perhaps Sebastian Vettel will be invited to compete there one day.
P for podium: The only mistake Sebastian made at the Shanghai Grand Prix was on the podium. While lifting up the cup he slipped and grazed his thumb.
Q for qualifying: Sebastian Vettel’s strength is doubtless the qualifyings. In his 29-race-long career to date he has started in pole position twice and two other times third on the grid. On average, Sebastian starts his races from 11th place.
R for rain: Rain is Vettel’s preferred Grand Prix weather. Both his Formula 1 victories were won in the pouring rain.
S for Schumacher: The seven-time Formula 1 world champ Michael Schumacher is Sebastian’s biggest idol. As early as his karting days Michael Schumacher handed him one or the other winning cups.
T for Toro Rosso: Sebastian Vettel has competed for Scuderia Toro Rosso a total of 25 times. This yielded a victory in Monza 2008, a pole position also in Monza, 40 WC points and an eighth place in the 2008 World Championship.
U for Unas: In recent years the Formula Unas have influenced the optical impression of the Formula 1 drivers’ camp. In the 2009 season the optical finery fell victim to the credit crunch but now Sebastian Vettel’s impressive performances draw journalists and photographers to the Energy Station.
V for Valencia: At the first Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia Sebastian Vettel from sixth on the grid – up to then it was his best and he finished the race on the new city circuit in sixth place.
W for Webber: Mark Webber is Sebastian Vettel’s team-mate in Red Bull Racing. In Shanghai the Australian complemented Vettel with a second place, thus completing the duo’s historical double victory for RBR.
X for X-Bow: At the Race of Champions Nations Cup 2008 in London Sebastian Vettel defended his title from 2007 in a KTM X-Bow together with Michael Schumacher.
Y for Yas Island: The last race of the Formula 1 Saison 2009 will take place on the Circuit Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. This city circuit with bends à la the port area in Monte Carlo or the Eau Rouge in Spa, is new territory for all drivers – an advantage for Sebastian Vettel, who’s good at living up to new challenges.
Z for Zandvoort: Just one week after his Formula 1 debut Sebastian Vettel raced his best Formula 3 race ever. In the second race in Zandvoort he shot from the second-to-last place on the grid to second place at the finish.
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