Sebastian Vettel: 2012 F1 world champion

Sebastian Vettel has become Formula One’s youngest ever triple world champion after finishing the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix in sixth place.

His only rival for the title, Fernando Alonso, finished the race in second place, ensuring the title chase went down to the final lap.

We’ve now updated this post to include the official word from Red Bull Racing. We’ll start with some thought from the man of the moment, Sebastian Vettel: “It’s difficult to imagine what goes through my head now, I am so full of adrenalin. It was an incredible race, everything that could have happened to make it more difficult for us today, happened!

“I am very, very happy. The most important thing throughout the season is that we kept pushing and remained ourselves. We just try to do our thing and stick to the route that we know and that’s what made the difference. Some people try to play games, but we never get distracted, we keep going our way. Everyone at Milton Keynes and here at the circuit, they are always pushing so hard and we really stepped up our game in the second half of the season.

“I would like to thank everyone in the team and at Renault. There’s no one in this team that feels more important than any one else, we all push together, alongside each other, it’s one big force and I’m very proud of that. It’s unreal what has happened. To win a third title, especially here where one of my heroes Ayrton Senna was from, it’s difficult to put into words. I was crying in the car but my radio wasn’t working, so I’m maybe happy for that! Tomorrow I can probably say more, but now I just don’t have the right words.”

More after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Sebastian Vettel is the 2012 World Champion, 2011 World Champion and 2010 World Champion

Red Bull Racing Claims Triple Double Championships
’10 / ’11 / ’12

#GIVESYOUW111NGS #PUSHTHEBOUNDARIES

Car 1 SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Finish Position: 6th, Start Position: 4th
“It’s difficult to imagine what goes through my head now, I am so full of adrenalin. It was an incredible race, everything that could have happened to make it more difficult for us today, happened! I got turned around in Turn 4 for no reason and was heading the wrong way; so I had to get straight and was lucky no one hit me. The car was damaged and we lost speed in straights, even more as it dried up, but fortunately it started to rain again. All weekend people tried to push us in a certain direction and said if it rained it would be harder for us, but we have proven today that we like rain conditions as much as the dry. I am very, very happy. The most important thing throughout the season is that we kept pushing and remained ourselves. We just try to do our thing and stick to the route that we know and that’s what made the difference. Some people try to play games, but we never get distracted, we keep going our way. Everyone at Milton Keynes and here at the circuit, they are always pushing so hard and we really stepped up our game in the second half of the season. I would like to thank everyone in the team and at Renault. There’s no one in this team that feels more important than any one else, we all push together, alongside each other, it’s one big force and I’m very proud of that. It’s unreal what has happened. To win a third title, especially here where one of my heroes Ayrton Senna was from, it’s difficult to put into words. I was crying in the car but my radio wasn’t working, so I’m maybe happy for that! Tomorrow I can probably say more, but now I just don’t have the right words.”

Car 2 MARK WEBBER, Finish Position: 4th, Start Position: 3rd
“The race lived up to expectations today and the conditions were obviously very tricky for all of us. We weren’t particularly strong today pace wise and both Seb and I were pretty vulnerable on restarts, as well as the start of the race on slicks. I got hit pretty hard on the inside, I think it was one of the Sauber’s, and we had to press on from there. We got probably what we could have out of today and we made a good call to go to the intermediate tyres when we did. For Sebastian, it was a great effort. He has joined a pretty decent club now and has even set his own some ways, the youngest ever World Champion and now a triple World Champion – you’ve got to take your hat off to him. The season has gone fast, there have been a lot of different winners, some ups and downs, a lot of crashes and a couple of nice wins for myself. I’m now looking forward to having a break, to recharge and then it’s on to 2013.”

CHRISTIAN HORNER, Team Principal:
“An unbelievable end to what has been a really incredible season. We always knew this Championship was going to go right down to the wire and I don’t think anybody could have expected the kind of race we got today. But, to have achieved a triple double World Championship is quite phenomenal. Sebastian has driven better than ever this season and has fought his way back into this Championship; he’s never given up and you saw that in today’s race. After being knocked out of position and going to the back of the field with a load of damage, he fought his way back into the race, he never gave up and it was a race of maximum stress today with rain and no rain, then incidents, spins, you name it, it happened – safety cars, radios that didn’t work – but you have to reflect on the season as a whole. Over 20 races the team has done an unbelievable job and Sebastian truly deserves this World Championship. Having gone up against an incredible opponent in Fernando Alonso, and we have to pay tribute to him and the way he’s driven this year, it has made this Championship even more appreciated because of the level of competition we’ve had to compete against. So, all I can do is thank every single member of the team for everything that they’ve put in. I’d like to thank Dietrich Mateschitz for his commitment, backing and support, and the encouragement that he’s given all of us. To all the members of Red Bull who have been with us all the way through this, and of course to all of our partners that have grown and been on this journey with us over the last three years, A big thank you on behalf of the whole team to all of them. It’s going to take a little while for the success to sink in.”

ADRIAN NEWEY, Chief Technical Officer:
“The whole season has been an amazing ride, but today, to finish it like that down to the wire with so many obstacles – the first lap incident, the concern about the damage to both the bodywork and the exhaust, the fact that the car was then hard on its tyres, the radio failing – was just great; you know, we had so many things thrown against us. I think to come through all that and still get enough points to win the Championship was a real testament to team and driver. For Seb to get three championships, I don’t know how you’d be able to describe that, but I think the hallmark of the year really has been the tenacity shown by the team. We struggled with the car at the start of the year, trying to understand how it worked with the loss of the side exhaust, and to turn around a slightly difficult sub car at the start of the year, to get it to the point where we were able to seal the Constructors’ a week ago and then again here with the Drivers’ – it’s just been a great tribute to everybody.”

CYRIL DUMONT, Renault:
“It was a tough race. Seb was in the last position after he spun and after that we lost radio contact. It was pretty difficult – we changed to slick tyres and then had to stop again to change to intermediates, but we weren’t ready due to the radio issue. It’s been difficult on our side with the alternator issue at the previous race, so it seems running the new specification here was the right decision to take. All in all it’s been a difficult season, but we reached the goal we wanted. I’d like to thank all of my team at the track, back at Viry and everyone who’s part of the Renault Group and the people working for Mechachrome. A big thank you to everyone, it’s been a pleasure to work with you over the last six years.”

STATISTICS

In his Formula One career, SEBASTIAN VETTEL has achieved:

• 101 RACE STARTS (26 before Red Bull Racing, 75 with)
• 26 WINS
• 46 PODIUMS
• 36 POLES
• 15 FASTEST LAPS
• 1054 POINTS
• 3 DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS
• RECORD: Most poles achieved by a driver in a season (2011)
• RECORD: Most laps led by a driver in a season (2011)

Only two drivers have previously won three consecutive championships (neither won their first three consecutively)
Juan Manuel Fangio: ‘51, ‘54, ‘55, ‘56, ‘57
Michael Schumacher: ’94, ’95, ‘00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04

2012: Red Bull Racing – Formula One Driver

• 2012 Formula One World Champion
• Youngest ever triple Formula One World Champion
• Third driver in history to claim three consecutive Championships
• Winner Bahrain Grand Prix
• Winner Singapore Grand Prix
• Winner Japanese Grand Prix
• Winner Korean Grand Prix
• Winner Indian Grand Prix
• Five additional podium finishes
• Six fastest laps
• Six pole positions
• 281 points

2011: Red Bull Racing – Formula One Driver

• 2011 Formula One World Champion
• Youngest ever double Formula One World Champion
• RECORD: Most poles achieved by a driver in a season
• RECORD: Most laps led by a driver in a season
• Winner Australian Grand Prix
• Winner Malaysian Grand Prix
• Winner Turkish Grand Prix
• Winner Spanish Grand Prix
• Winner Monaco Grand Prix
• Winner European Grand Prix
• Winner Belgian Grand Prix
• Winner Italian Grand Prix
• Winner Singapore Grand Prix
• Winner Korean Grand Prix
• Winner Indian Grand Prix
• Six additional podium finishes
• Three fastest laps
• 15 pole positions
• Scored 392 points

2010: Red Bull Racing – Formula One Driver

• 2010 Formula One World Champion
• Youngest ever Formula One World Champion
•  Winner Malaysian Grand Prix
• Winner European Grand Prix
• Winner Japanese Grand Prix
• Winner Brazilian Grand Prix
• Winner Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• Five additional podium finishes
• Three fastest laps
• 10 pole positions
• Scored 256 points

2009: Red Bull Racing – Formula One Driver

• Second in FIA Drivers’ Championship
  
• Winner Chinese Grand Prix
  
• Winner British Grand Prix
  
• Winner Japanese Grand Prix
  
• Winner Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
  
• Four additional podium finishes
  
• Scored 84 points

2008: Scuderia Toro Rosso – Formula One Driver

• Winner Italian Grand Prix (youngest ever F1 winner)
  
• Pole position Italian Grand Prix (youngest ever F1 pole)
  
• Scored 35 points

2007: BMW and Scuderia Toro Rosso – Formula One Driver

• Competes in US Grand Prix for the BMW Sauber F1 Team
  
• Finishes eighth to score first point (youngest ever F1 point scorer)
  
• Hungarian Grand Prix – joins Scuderia Toro Rosso

2006: Formula 3 Euro and Formula One Test Driver (BMW Sauber)

• Second place Formula 3 Euro Series, three wins
  
• Formula One test with BMW Sauber F1 in Jerez
  
• Friday test and reserve driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team from the Turkish Grand Prix onwards

2005: Formula 3 Euro

• Fifth place Formula 3 Euro Series
  Rookie champion, 6 podium places

2004: Formula BMW ADAC

• Winner Formula BMW ADAC Championship
  
• 18 wins from 20 races, 15 pole positions
  
• 16 fastest race laps

2003: Formula BMW ADAC

• Second place Formula BMW ADAC Championship
  
• Rookie champion

2002: Karting

• Sixth place European Championship ICA Senior

2001 Karting

• Winner European Junior Kart Championship
  
• Winner German Junior Kart Championship
  
• Winner Monaco Junior Kart Cup
  
• Winner Kart Paris-Bercy

From 1995

• Karting