Vettel clinches second F1 championship in Japan
2011 Japanese Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Suzuka, 2011
Sebastian Vettel has won the F1 drivers championship for the second year in a row.
Third place in the Japanese Grand Prix confirmed Vettel as the champion with four races to spare.
Vettel’s achievement, at the age of 24 years and 98 days, makes him the youngest driver to win two world championships.
He is the first driver to win back-to-back championships since Fernando Alonso in 2006.
See the current points standings in full here:
F1 world champions by country
Vettel’s win means more championships have now been won from drivers from Germany than any other nation besides Great Britain.
Whereas ten different British drivers have claimed the crown the nine championships won by German drivers belong to Vettel and Michael Schumacher – and all were won in the last 17 years.
| 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 | Germany | 9 | Michael Schumacher (7), Sebastian Vettel (2) |
| 3 | Brazil | 8 | Emerson Fittipaldi (2), Nelson Piquet (3), Ayrton Senna (3) |
| 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 |
2011 Japanese Grand Prix
- Rate the race result: 2011 Japanese GP
- Kobayashi greets the fans, Vettel does doughnuts: Suzuka videos
- Hamilton did not have a puncture at Suzuka
- 2011 Japanese Grand Prix: complete race weekend review
- Vote for your Japanese Grand Prix driver of the weekend
- Red Bull: Conservative approach delivers Vettel’s title
- McLaren: Button pleased to win on ‘Red Bull track’
- Ferrari: Alonso edges Vettel for second
- Mercedes: Schumacher closes on Rosberg’s tally
- Renault: Petrov makes progress, Senna slips back
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
gilles (@gilles) said on 9th October 2011, 8:39
Ringdigidindindingding!!!!
celeste (@celeste) said on 10th October 2011, 19:41
And “Yadabaduh” lol
JerseyF1 (@jerseyf1) said on 9th October 2011, 8:40
Must be nice to be able to write an article bar a single digit before the race!
BBT (@bbt) said on 9th October 2011, 8:42
Many congrats to Mr Vettel, fully deserved.
Hope he has to fight for his 3rd next year.
JCost (@jcost) said on 9th October 2011, 9:07
+1.
TommyB (@tommyb89) said on 9th October 2011, 9:15
+2
What a season for Vettel. Always pushed for the wins, even if he didn’t need to. Love to see that.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 9th October 2011, 9:15
I can only agree with that one @bbt
Bigbadderboom (@bigbadderboom) said on 9th October 2011, 14:34
Agree, boy done good, congrats Vettel, hopefully the others will rise to the challenge next year!!!!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 9th October 2011, 15:24
@Bigbadderboom That’s the way I see it. The way many people look at it, they would rather Vettel fail of his own accord than someone take the fight to him. That’s not sport at all!
I’m all for another strong year for Vettel next year.
DT (@dt) said on 9th October 2011, 8:43
Blimey that was quick! Nice work from Jenson. Vettel is on the podium which is good.
meek (@meek) said on 9th October 2011, 8:44
Just nitpicking here, but it would still be useful to put Alain Prost(4) and Fernando Alsonso(2) even though they are the only drivers from their countries… No big deal though and great statistics!
Rits (@rits) said on 9th October 2011, 8:51
I was just about to say that but we have somewhere else to focus right now, don’t we? ;)
Antranik (@antranik) said on 9th October 2011, 8:48
It was great to finally hear some true emotion from Vettel and not the completely over-the-top “WHOOOOOOOOO AMAGAD D00D I WAN!!” It was a great race and hopefully next years championship will be as interesting as the racing.
Stretch (@stretch) said on 9th October 2011, 8:48
He’s been a problem that no one has been able to fix…. but well done
JCost (@jcost) said on 9th October 2011, 8:52
Congrats Seb.
Eggry (@eggry) said on 9th October 2011, 8:56
Double Finger!! Now I congrats him, but I wish next year is not same!!
James_mc (@james_mc) said on 9th October 2011, 9:29
What digit do you think he’ll put up if he wins a 3rd… ;-)
Eggry (@eggry) said on 9th October 2011, 9:40
a toe I guess? :P
JCost (@jcost) said on 9th October 2011, 12:02
Those who hate 1 finger will have to take two fingers!
I’d love to see Schumacher win a race and putting 7 fingers up! :)
Steph (@) said on 9th October 2011, 8:58
He may have won the title today but I think the talking points have been JB and Alonso with their performances. I almost forgot about Seb and he was so caught up racing Fernando at one point I thought when the race finished he’d be surprised to find out he’d won the title.
He’s been superb all season bar perhaps today and Germany but that’s just nitpicking. He’s been so close to perfection the majority of the time. I know he’s got a good car but so does Mark and he’s destroyed him this year and that says a lot about how good Vettel is. Great job to the entire RBR team esp design and the pitcrew who have the toughest job in the pitlane but I can’t remember them ever making a mistake.
Enigma (@enigma) said on 9th October 2011, 9:16
Agreed, he’s been perfect this year, utterly deserved title. He’s surely established himself now as one of the best complete packages on the grid, I think he’s right up there with Alonso and Button.
Enigma (@enigma) said on 9th October 2011, 9:19
@steph Though the pitcrew did make some mistakes – at Monaco and Silverstone, but it didn’t cost him anything. They weren’t flawless today either, but I think that was 1st pit stop which didn’t lose him the lead anyway.
Steph (@) said on 9th October 2011, 9:28
@Enigma you’ve always got to be right, haven’t you? ;)
Alonso>Seb>JB for me :P
Fixy (@fixy) said on 10th October 2011, 15:55
I wasn’t as excited as last year, because I already knew who would’ve won, and because Jenson’s and Fernando’s drives were incredible. I didn’t make the fuss I should’ve made of Alonso taking second and catching Button, maybe because it was early in the morning or maybe because the commentators were saying he would’ve been in front of Vettel before he stopped.
verstappen (@verstappen) said on 9th October 2011, 9:01
Regardless that finger… You have to like this man/boy.
Two WDC and showing hè is able to overtake! What à year!
zippyone (@zippyone) said on 9th October 2011, 10:18
Yes I am warming to him now, he has been amazing all year, still don’t like that finger though! Congratulations to Vettel x
JohnBt (@johnbt) said on 9th October 2011, 9:08
FANTASTIC RACE!
Congrats to Vettlel on his 2nd WDC.
Button and Alonso for putting up a great fight. Overall they were many exciting moments from the rest of the grid. Hamilton and Massa, deja vu.
The last four races will be preparation for 2012.
Slr (@slr) said on 9th October 2011, 9:12
Congrats to Vettel, he fully deserves the title.
Sandlefish (@sandlefish) said on 9th October 2011, 9:21
Congrats to Vettel on the double-title. Like him or not a more mature season and a fantastic performance!
Jim1601 (@jim1601) said on 9th October 2011, 9:30
Well done to Vettel, it’s scary to think how young he is and how many more he could win in his career!
For 2012 we need a combination of this year’s good racing and 2010′s championship battle!