Oct 9, 2011
It took fewer races and more wins and while it wasn't the cliff-hangar of 2010, Sebastian still did it. Today in Suzuka at the Japanese Grand Prix he was once again crowned Formula One world champion.
He only needed a point, but before the race he stated he was "going for glory". And the start proved it. His closing out of Jenson Button on the run down into the first corner was a statement of intent so clear it had McLaren asking the stewards if it was a fair defence move.
It was a fair move, but also a fair indication of the top drivers' determination. Over the hard-fought 53 laps of the testing Suzuka circuit there were fierce battles aplenty and none more fierce than the one at the front. It was a three-driver slug-out between Seb, Jenson and Alonso and each team used its strategy, pit stops and horsepower to challenge for the win. In the end though, it was Jenson who won this battle while Sebastian was the season victor.
Afterwards, having thanked everyone in the team, from the post-room guy in Milton Keynes to his trackside engineers, Seb tried (not especially successfully) to explain what today means to him: “To wrap up the Championship here is difficult to put into words – it’s more than fantastic.”
His team-mate added his points to the team's tally with a fourth-place finish from sixth on the grid. Mark managed to jump both Hamilton and Massa (whose own private face-off is getting more and more public) and finish a credible fourth to boost our chances in that other title race we're currently running.
Webber said: “In the end it was a reasonable result; it was a great race for Jenson, and congratulations to Seb for the title - to become a double world championship is a very good job.”
For our team principal, it was another day to smile about, two more great performances from both drivers, and another trophy to take back to the Factory. He said: “Third and fourth is a strong haul of points for the Constructors’ and we have consolidated our lead of 130 points. However, today belongs to Sebastian. He’s driven magnificently this year and thoroughly deserves this Championship. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and team work and he can be very proud of what he’s achieved. This now places him amongst an elite group of drivers who have realised not only a double Championship – but back-to-back World Championships."
There may be a small celebration this evening, but it's an early start tomorrow, Sebastian's on Infiniti duty and, next Sunday, we have to make amends for last year's Korean Grand Prix result.
We've got another title to race for, and work for that starts Monday morning sharp.
Vettel Statistics
Sebastian's achievements in Formula One to date:
- won 19 races (18 with Red Bull Racing, 1 with Scuderia Toro Rosso)
- recorded 27 pole positions (26 wtih Red Bull Racing, 1 with Scuderia Toro Rosso)
- scored 705 points (664 with Red Bull Racing, 40 with Scuderia Toro Rosso, 1 with BMW Sauber)
- twice been crowned Formula One World Champion (2010, 2011)
Credit: Red Bull Racing Formula one Team (www.redbullracing.com)
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