Vettel Triumphs In Adu Dhabi To Become The Youngest World Champion
Vettel kissing by far the sweetest trophy he has ever won
“Thank you very much, guys!” the 23-year-old German would cry on the radio at the end of the race. Sebastian Vettel won both the Abu Dhabi and the championship title for the first time in career. Thus, Red Bull Racing team must be very happy with the big event. They finished first place in both team and driver standings. After a very tough season in which the youngster had to pull out races from vary technical reasons, the end of the year sees Vettel top spot and his team-mate Mark Webber paying tribute to him. First seed before the EAU race, Fernando Alonso couldn’t take advantage of his third position, former world champion coming seventh to drop second in the Formula One standings as Renault’s Vitaly Petrov didn’t let the Spaniard take his face.
The German became the youngest driver to win the F1 championship at 23 years and 106 days. Lewis Hamilton is now the second-youngest driver to claim the championship, the Briton finishing in 2008 top spot at the age of 23 and 301 days. Both McLaren drivers joined Vettel on Sunday’s final race of the year, Hamilton coming second at 10.162 seconds behind, while his team-mate and compatriot Jenson Button arrived third to 11.047 seconds. The two would pour champagne on Vettel’s head at the final ceremony.
The German barely helped himself from crying during the ceremony, just like he did right after the final lap. On the pit wall, owner Dietrich Mateschitz and principal Christian Horner would congratulate the young German. “You are the world champion. Enjoy it. You are the man,” the two said to him as Vettel would answer with an emotional voice “I love you!” However, the new champion couldn’t give away the emotions the whole night. During the news conference he was once again one step from tears.
Alonso, who was supported by the King of Spain, was told early in the lap 16 that it will be pretty difficult to go through and finish second, while Andrea Stella would beg him use all of his talent when 13 laps remained to go. But that was very hard to do. Alonso only oscillated around the eighth place. Even if Red Bull finish the year top spot and his team-mate world champion, Mark Webber didn’t look too happy. He finishes the year third in the standings right behind Alonso.
Finally, Michael Schumacher stopped looking like a former world leader. He ended the race from the very beginning after a crash with Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi. The German veteran finishes the year ninth in the F1 table. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are fourth and fifth in the general standings, while Alonso’s team-mate is sixth. Vettel ends the season with 256 points, while Alonso goes second with four behind him. Webber is third with 242 points.
