For the thirteenth time this season, Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel started from pole, drove away from the field, and cruised to victory in a Formula One race.
The 26-year-old German driver had already won his fourth consecutive World Driver’s Championship two races prior to Sunday’s season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix; his latest win only extended the list of records he has set this season.
“I’m actually quite sad that this season comes to an end,” Vettel said at the podium ceremony, televised on NBCSN. “I think the last couple of races, really since the summer break, to win every race is unbelievable.”
Actually, while winning nine in a row in a season set a record, it was quite believable considering what Sebastian Vettel had already accomplished this season, and in his short career.
With his latest victory Vettel tied F1 legend Michael Schumacher for most wins in a season at thirteen, and tied Alberto Ascari’s tally of nine consecutive wins. However Ascari set his mark over a span of two seasons; Vettel is the first F1 driver to win nine straight in a single year.
Vettel’s 39th race win moves him to within two of third placed Ayrton Senna, and twelve of Alain Prost; Vettel’s childhood inspiration Michael Schumacher is on top with 93 wins, but at the rate Vettel is going he will surpass his hero. Vettel has a 32.5-percent start-to-win ratio, better than the three racing legends ahead of him.
Vettel was already the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix at, age 21, and the youngest to win a driver’s championship, and the youngest to win four and four consecutive titles.
His pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix gives him 45, making his third in that ranking behind Schumacher (68) and Senna (65.) Vettel already held the record for most poles in a season at 15, as well as youngest driver to win a pole and to set fastest lap.
With his win at Brazil Vettel also set a new record for scoring the most possible points in a season. His 397 points were 83.58 percent of the points available, breaking the marks he had already set in 2011 and 2012. Nearest to him is Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, with 55.6 percent—not even close.
Most amazing of all, the young German driver has set all; these record in only six full seasons in the sport, with only 120 total starts. If he drives another ten years (wholly likely) Sebastian Vettel will own almost every record in the books.
Besdies having an inordinate amount of driving skill, Sebastian Vettel has class. When the interviewer approached him at the podium ceremony, Vettel insisted she instead start with Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, who retired from F1 after the race.
Mark Webber finished his last season in F1 on high note as well. The 37-year-old Australian, who is decamping to drive for Porsche’s Le Mans program in 2014, finished second at Brazil, moving him into third in driver points.
Vettel and Webber had long since earned Red Bull its fourth consecutive Constructor’s championship, tying them for second with McLaren, behind Ferrari which won six. With Vettel staying at Red Bull, that record also seems likely to fall.
