Sebastian Success Story
Synopsis
Sebastian Vettel is a Formula One racing Driver, currently driving for Red Bull Racing in the F1 Championships. He is the winner of four consecutive World championships. Also he is third behind Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna In the overall tally of pole positions. He is the youngest to achieve many milestones including being the youngest to secure pole position, lead a race and win a race.
Childhood
Vettel was born in Heppenheim, Germany on 3rd July 1987. Vettel was not a very bright student at school. His childhood heroes were Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher and Michael Jackson. Vettel wanted to be a singer like Michael Jackson but couldn’t because he realized that he did not have such a good voice. He started amateur karting at the age of 4. Vettel began racing in Kart Series in 1995, at the age of eight. He was called to join the Red bull Junior Team at the age of 11.
Early Career
In 2003, Vettel showed his skills on the big stage when he secured 18 victories out of a total of 20 races in the 2004 German formula BMW Championship. In 2005 he participated in the Formula 3 Euro Series. He came fifth with 64 points in his debut season. He was awarded the year’s top rookie honours. As a result he got a chance to test the Williams FW27 Formula One Automobile.
Career
In the year 2006, Vettel was second in the Formula 3 Euroseries. He was promoted to be a test driver for Sauber in Formula One. In 2007, Vettel competed in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series and took his first win in Nurburgring. He was leading the Championship and expected to win. But there was a greater surprise waiting for Vettel. He was called up to race in the Formula One at the age of 18. At such a young age his dream had come true.
Following the serious crash of team member Kubica, Vettel was called to replace him at the United States Grand Prix. He started seventh on the grid and finished eighth becoming the youngest driver ever to score championship points at 19 years and 349 days. Seeing his performance at the highest level of motor racing, many critics considered him the next big thing in F1 racing.
In July 2007 he joined the Scuderia Toro Rosso team. Though he had troubles performing at his best in the first few races, soon he finished fourth at the Chinese Grand Prix. His team averaged worse than 14th place before Vettel arrived. But Vettel had shown his racing abilities by taking such a team to new levels. He won his first race at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix. He was just 21 years and 74 days when he won his first title.
Sebastian Vettel with Michael Schumacher
This was the breakthrough that Vettel was looking forward to. From here there was no looking back. In 2009, he joined Red Bull Racing and stunned the world when he came second in the Driver’s championship behind Jenson Button. In 2010, he went on to win the Driver’s Championship by just 4 points. He became the youngest World Champion at the age of 22. Soon he reached the status of his hero Michael Schumacher by winning the Championship again in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Today Vettel is already considered as one of the best F1 drivers the World has ever seen. He is expected to break many more records in the time to come. His hunger for success has made him a fierce and feared competitor in the racing circuit. His ascend to the top has been very quick. His talent and perseverance have made him one of the most successful racers in recent history.
Awards
- 2014
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Laureus World Sports for Sportsman of the Year
- 2013
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BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
- 2009
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DHL Fastest Lap of the Year
- 2008
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Autosport of the Year
