Sebastian Vettel becomes youngest ever F1 champion
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Abu Dhabi, 2010
Sebastian Vettel has become the youngest driver ever to win the Formula 1 world championship.
At 23 years and 134 days old he has broken the record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2008, who won the title aged 23 years, 301 days.
This record has now been broken three times in the last six years – Fernando Alonso the first to break it in 2005.
F1 world champions by country
Vettel is only the second German driver to win the world championship, joining Michael Schumacher, who last won the world championship in 2004.
| Country | No. | Drivers/s | |
| 1 | Britain | 14 | Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill (2), Jim Clark (2), John Surtees, Jackie Stewart (3), James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button |
| 2 | Brazil | 8 | Emerson Fittipaldi (2), Nelson Piquet (3), Ayrton Senna (3) |
| 2 | Germany | 8 | Michael Schumacher (7), Sebastian Vettel |
| 4 | Argentina | 5 | Juan Manuel Fangio |
| 5 | Australia | 4 | Jack Brabham (3), Alan Jones |
| 5 | Austria | 4 | Jochen Rindt, Niki Lauda (3) |
| 5 | France | 4 | Alain Prost |
| 5 | Finland | 4 | Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen (2), Kimi Räikkönen |
| 9 | Italy | 3 | Giuseppi Farina, Alberto Ascari (2) |
| 10 | United States | 2 | Phil Hill, Mario Andretti |
| 10 | Spain | 2 | Fernando Alonso |
| 12 | New Zealand | 1 | Denny Hulme |
| 12 | South Africa | 1 | Jody Scheckter |
| 12 | Canada | 1 | Jacques Villeneuve |
2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
- Steven’s view of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Drivers’ and teams’ end-of-season photographs
- Alonso’s role in Ferrari strategy revealed in pit messages
- Hamilton: McLaren learned a lot in 2010
- Button vows to address qualifying weakness
- Vettel ends season on a high to snatch title
- Ferrari hit back at criticism of race strategy
- McLaren rediscover their form at final race
- New engines help Renault to best result of 2010
Einar AI said on 14th November 2010, 15:52
I could sum it up easily for Ferrari – DISASTER.
As a Ferrari fan, I’m deeply disappointed. I’d have actually offered Petrov a race seat in Ferrari mid-race if he’d let Alonso past. He wouldn’t have been much worse than Massa.
dj said on 14th November 2010, 16:11
When Massa didn’t get past Webber, they should have let Alonso stay out until lap 36, then he would have been 4th behind Botton,just a bad call by the pit wall crew.
Snoopy said on 14th November 2010, 16:14
How long did you take to figure that out with hindsight?
dj said on 15th November 2010, 15:01
Well i said it to my bud’s as it happen,but they should have timed gap better based on Fridays P2 were the tires came back late in the session . Button did a fine job of managing tires this year.
Paul H said on 14th November 2010, 16:03
Were you referring to the More Than A Feeling by Boston portion?
Kbdavies said on 14th November 2010, 16:06
Hulk to replace Webber at Red Bull?
Shimks said on 14th November 2010, 16:08
Best season I’ve ever watched. Fantastic stuff.
Thanks Keith for everything. Ace site.
Snoopy said on 14th November 2010, 16:09
I said it here yesterday that by keeping both drivers in the hunt, it gave Fernando too many permutations to think about. He didn’t only have to finish ahead of Mark but no lower than 4th (provided VET wins). Full marks to RB for the Brazil call. They handled various things badly this year as they are a maturing team and some of this should be expected. Great job RB & VET in the last 2 races!
thespuditron (@spud) said on 14th November 2010, 16:18
While all his rivals were making bad decisions, getting stuck behind rookie drivers, etc. etc., Vettel was flawless today.
He deserves it.
I wanted Mark to do it but he just wasn’t good enought this weekend.
Well done to Vettel! The emotion from him at the end was fantastic to hear.
Mads said on 14th November 2010, 16:19
Fantastic race.
Good overtaking and a lot of very crucial strategic moves. I like how Red Bull totally tricked Ferrari, and Ferrari ate it raw. That was just brilliant.
And Petrov really impressed me. Totally faultless. Amazingly enough it was the battle hardened 2 times WDC who made the mistakes. Not the rookie in the massively slower Renault. Funnily enough Red Bull have had all sorts of problems with their Renault engine and then in the last race, where it really matters it is Renault who comes and saves the day. Yes Alonso should have been around Rosberg anyway, but those Renaults made sure that Alonso did not get a chance. Oh and last, Alonso fist weaving at Petrov was funny. That is just Alonso in a nutshell.
rayan said on 14th November 2010, 16:22
great season,,,,great work from media,,,,,websites…thank u guys…..thank u kieth….your works should continue
iam glad for vettel bcoz he deserves it,,,,,hamilton matured a lot better luck next time….button and webber did their rolls for their teams,,,,,alonso lost the championship but he deserves to lose only….massa has to prove something to make a impression in f1…overall red bull and mclaren have the spirit of winning….as far as ferrari although iam a fan has to accept they didnt use their brain in making strategies,,,no aggresive strategies,,,,nothing interesting….totally they are no where near redbulls and mclaren….we are terribly missing jean and ross,,,,,,2008.2009.2010….the team is like a rookie
GaryL said on 14th November 2010, 16:27
Yeahh Vettelll..congratulation the youngest F1 Champion #1
GaryL said on 14th November 2010, 16:32
Oh yeah Thanks very much Keith for this F1 blog, farewell 2010
Alex said on 14th November 2010, 16:28
Congrats to Seb, true champ! expect a very ruthless Alonso & Hamilton next season.. Bring It On!!!
taurus said on 14th November 2010, 16:30
not really a fan of Vettel but i think he deserved the title.
Alonso showed today exactly what kind of sportsman he is… hope he never wins a race again.
Monad said on 14th November 2010, 16:57
Why, what did he do?
roberttty said on 14th November 2010, 16:53
Congrats to the crash kid!
marco said on 14th November 2010, 17:03
Interesting fact:
it’s the first time since the 1976/1982 stripe that five different driver win in five years.
2010 VET
2009 BUT
2008 HAM
2007 RAI
2006 ALO
F1silverarrows said on 14th November 2010, 17:08
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! YES YES YES YES YES YES……….
THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT…
d-d said on 14th November 2010, 17:08
Now Ferrari will have to eat their humble pie smiling in front of cameras – like they smiled in Germany, lol.
Domenicali – you smile first, please.