In the wet Japanese Grand Prix, when they were running second and third behind the safety car, he needlessly collided with Red Bull's Mark Webber, putting them both out of the race. In mid-summer the teenager became a full-time driver with the Red Bull-sponsored Toro Rosso team, where at first it seemed he had come too far too fast. There, deputising for the injured Robert Kubica, he qualified seventh and finished eighth, becoming the youngest driver to score a championship point. His Formula One race debut came in the 2007 US Grand Prix at Indianapolis. At 19 he became a test driver for the BMW Sauber F1 team, underlining his commitment to the cause by moving to a village near the Swiss-based team's headquarters. At 18 he distinguished himself testing a BMW Williams F1 car. As a 17-year-old schoolboy he won an unprecedented 18 of 20 races to dominate the German Formula BMW championship. Learning and improving all the time, he graduated with flying colours into single-seaters.
The solution came in the form of sponsorship from Red Bull, whose talent-spotters decided Sebastian was worthy of inclusion in the energy drink maker's young driver training programme. But that would take more money than the Vettels could afford. One of his early trophies was presented by his idol Michael Schumacher, who befriended the awestruck boy, noting their similar backgrounds and encouraging him to follow his passion and reach for the top.
He made his kart racing debut at the age of seven and immediately began winning races and championships. Pole position man Sebastian Vettel (GER) Scuderia Toro Rosso in parc ferme.įormula One World Championship, Rd 14, Italian Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Monza, Italy, Saturday 13 September 2008. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR02.Īustralian Grand Prix, Rd 1, Qualifying Day, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday 15 March 2008. Sebastian Vettel (GER) BMW Sauber Third Driver.įormula One World Championship, Rd 14, Turkish Grand Prix, Practice Day, Istanbul Park, Turkey, 25 August 2006. Sebastian Vettel (GER) tests a Williams BMW FW27.įormula One Testing, Day One, Jerez, Spain, Tuesday 27 September 2005. Adria International Speedway Circuit, Italy. L-R, Christopher Wassermann (AUT) and Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull Junior sponsored drivers, BMW ADAC Championship.įormula BMW ADAC Championship Testing.
ICA Junior European Championship, St Amand, France.
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