F1: Vettel savours ‘special’ moment

Rivals fulsome in their praise for the Formula One champion.

SUZUKA: A jubilant Sebastian Vettel says his second world championship, which makes him the youngest back-to-back winner in Formula One history, is even more special than last year’s triumph.

The 24-year-old was struggling to take in his achievement following a third-place finish in his Red Bull in the Japanese Grand Prix, behind McLaren’s Jenson Button and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

“It’s not just me, but it’s the whole team that does the work for this,” he said. “So I want to thank every single person – the whole team back in England and everyone in the race team.

“We’ve done it all together and this time around, really, it feels great. Last year when I won the title at Abu Dhabi it was the last race. The season was finished and I had a long time out of the car.

“This year, it’s different and it makes it more special so I’m looking forward to rest of the season.”

Vettel added that having his boyhood hero Michael Schumacher racing alongside him made his crowning glory more special.

“I never imagined that I would win the world championship, and the second world championship, and Michael drives past me doing a thumbs-up,” he said.

Alonso, the last man to successfully defend his title, was all praise for Vettel.

“He drove perfectly in all races and qualifying in all conditions,” he said. “He deserved it.”

Button also admitted the German deserved to be champion.

“Sebastian has been phenomenal and he totally deserves the world championship,” said Button.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2011.