SUMMARY
- Sebastian Vettel clinches 2010 title at Abu Dhabi GP, showcasing his strategic brilliance and securing his maiden championship.
- Vettel's speed and daring strategy lead him to triumph, dominating the Italian Grand Prix of 2011 and 2008.
Former driver Sebastian Vettel has been one of the most successful drivers in the history of Formula 1. Vettel won four world championships with Red Bull between the years 2010 and 2013. During his active days, he finished on the podium 122 times, won 53 races, and held 57 pole positions. His competitive racing style, savvy reasoning, and unwavering determination have cemented his status as one of the best drivers on the grid.
The German, however, made the choice to call it quits after the end of the 2022 campaign. Though many rumors and speculations have been made about his return, the F1 community seems to be calling it to be a fantasy. However, during his career, Vettel has delivered some of the most outstanding performances that fans fondly remember to this day.
Here are five races where Sebastian Vettel truly cemented his status as a F1 champion:
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 2010
In the history of Formula 1, the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a turning moment. The event was the very first race at the state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit, which has a mix of fast turns and narrow chicanes. Sebastian Vettel made his racing debut for Red Bull at the race as he recently joined the team following an impressive stint at Toro Rosso.
Dream Team: Sebastian with Helmut Marko, Adrian Newey & Christian Horner, after winning his first world championship title, in Abu Dhabi, in 2010 ⭐🏆#Vettel #Seb5 #F1 pic.twitter.com/JUyeNI2B9b
— #DankeSeb ♡ (@sebvettelnews) June 4, 2020
As the 2010 season came to a finish, the German driver was lagging behind Fernando Alonso in the standings for the title. Even after his victory in Brazil, he still had an enormous gap to overcome. But in a stunning turn of events in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Vettel dominated and won his very first championship title.
Vettel got off to a great start, virtually winning the pole position and fending off Lewis Hamilton in the decisive opening turn. The driver made a calculated pit stop to maintain Red Bull’s advantage while Hamilton kept up the pressure. It nearly did not seem like this master class in race management, which netted him a perfect ten.
Spanish Grand Prix, 2011
For Vettel, a rising star at Red Bull at the time, the race was not quite a piece of cake. Although he did win, it was a brutal race that tested every bit of his ability and spirit. In a surprising turn of events, Alonso rocketed from fourth to first at the start, but his Ferrari failed to maintain the lead for long. Meanwhile, the 4x champion outsmarted his teammate and pole sitter, Mark Webber, to grab second place.
Vettel, though, was an expert at passing. He swiftly eliminated Button and Felipe Massa. This proved vital since Hamilton could overtake Webber during his pit stop since he was incapable of pulling off this feat. Vettel pitted again, and Hamilton followed suit a lap later. Although it was yet another pole for Vettel, the race was one of a kind.
Italian Grand Prix, 2011
This race at Monza was a masterclass in speed and strategy from Sebastian Vettel. The high-octane atmosphere of Monza, perfectly suited the young German driver and his powerful Red Bull machine. He took a gamble, pushing his car for maximum cornering grip even if it meant sacrificing pure speed. This bold move paid off spectacularly.
His Red Bull was unstoppable around the turns, but it was a disaster on the straight paths, losing by a massive 20 km/h. This gave him a way to not only safely qualify for the pole position but also overtake Alonso in a risky move early in the race. He snuck past a slow-starting British sensation and then got the better of Alonso exiting a tight corner.
Vettel effortlessly defeated every other competitor in the race, leaving them in the wake of him. After a long wait, Jenson Button ultimately climbed into second position, yet not until he crossed the finish line a staggering 9.6 seconds ahead of him.
Indian Grand Prix, 2013
Arriving at the Buddh International Circuit, the German driver stood on the cusp of history, needing a win to secure his fourth consecutive world championship title. Vettel dominated the weekend, grabbing pole position by a whopping 0.75 seconds on the softer tires. The Austrian outfit gambled with a bold strategy. They pitted Vettel early, sacrificing an initial lead to preserve the faster tires for later in the race.
Sebastian Vettel bows to the RB9
Indian GP – 2013#F1 pic.twitter.com/Q1FJNLxPsN
— F1 History (@TodayF1History) January 23, 2024
This gamble initially dropped Vettel down to 17th place, stuck in the midfield traffic. Vettel, though, seemed unfazed. His vehicle turned into a rocket ship as it had a longer top gear than intended and less downforce. The legendary driver nevertheless comfortably won the race, finishing 29.8 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Nico Rosberg.
Italian Grand Prix, 2008
The 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza was not just a race, it was a coming-of-age story for a young Sebastian Vettel. But just before the race, heavy rain disrupted preparations by the teams. Many of the groups found it difficult to adjust, but Vettel thrived in the mayhem. Although Toro Rosso had a respectable season in that season, they were not very competitive.
The race was expected to be dominated by the biggest names, led by Heikki Kovalainen in his McLaren, as race day had begun with rain. After the first round of pit stops, Vettel was still comfortably in the lead. He crossed the finish line a comfortable distance ahead of Kovalainen, securing not only his first F1 victory but also the record for the youngest Grand Prix winner of that time.