Sebastian Vettel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sebastian Vettel
Vettel at the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix
Born	(1987-07-03) 3 July 1987 (age 37) Heppenheim, Hesse, West Germany
Spouse(s)	Hanna Prater ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	3
Relatives	Fabian Vettel (brother)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	German
Active years	2007–2022
Teams	BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Ferrari, Aston Martin
Car number	5 1 (2014)
Entries	300 (299 starts)
Championships	4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Wins	53
Podiums	122
Career points	3098
Pole positions	57
Fastest laps	38
First entry	2007 United States Grand Prix
First win	2008 Italian Grand Prix
Last win	2019 Singapore Grand Prix
Last entry	2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Previous series
2006–2007 2005–2006 2003–2004	Formula Renault 3.5 F3 Euro Series Formula BMW ADAC
Championship titles
2004	Formula BMW ADAC
Medal record Motor racing Representing  Germany Race of Champions Winner 2007 London Team Winner 2008 London Team Winner 2009 Beijing Team Winner 2010 Düsseldorf Team Winner 2011 Düsseldorf Team Winner 2012 Bangkok Team Winner 2015 London Individual Winner 2017 Miami Team Runner-up 2022 Piteå Individual Gold 2019 Mexico City Skills
Signature

Sebastian Vettel (born 3 July 1987) is a German racing driver. He competed in Formula One from 2007 to 2022. Vettel won four Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles in a row from 2010 to 2013 with the Red Bull team. He is still the youngest-ever World Drivers' Champion. He won 53 races during his 16 seasons in the sport.

Vettel grew up in Heppenheim, Germany. He started kart racing at age eight. After a very successful karting career, he moved on to junior racing series. He won the Formula BMW ADAC championship in 2004, winning 18 out of 20 races. He then raced in the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2005 and 2006.

Vettel became a test driver for BMW Sauber in 2006. He made his Formula One debut at the 2007 United States Grand Prix. He joined Toro Rosso later in 2007. In 2008, Vettel achieved his first pole position and victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix. This made him the youngest driver at that time to win a Formula One Grand Prix. He moved to the main Red Bull team in 2009.

In 2010, Vettel won the final race in Abu Dhabi to become the youngest Formula One World Drivers' Champion at 23 years old. He won his second and third championships in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Vettel set many records, winning 13 races. This included a record of nine wins in a row. He claimed his fourth straight title with Red Bull.

After a season without wins in 2014, Vettel joined Ferrari. He won several races in his first year with Ferrari in 2015. He finished second in the championship in 2017 and 2018, challenging Lewis Hamilton. Vettel won his last race for Ferrari at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix. He left the team at the end of the 2020 season.

Vettel joined Aston Martin in 2021. He achieved his last podium finish at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He retired from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season. Sebastian Vettel holds many records in Formula One, including the fourth-most wins and pole positions. He also won the Race of Champions in 2015 and the Nations' Cup several times with Michael Schumacher. Since 2023, he is a co-owner of the Germany SailGP Team. He is also known for his work as an environmental and climate activist.

Early Life and Interests

Sebastian Vettel was born on 3 July 1987 in Heppenheim, West Germany. His parents are Norbert and Heike Vettel. He has a younger brother, Fabian Vettel, who is also a racing driver. He also has two older sisters, Melanie and Stefanie.

Vettel has said he was "terrible" at school. However, he passed his final exams with a good grade. His childhood heroes were "The three Michaels": Michael Schumacher, Michael Jordan, and Michael Jackson. He once wanted to be a singer like Michael Jackson but realized he didn't have the voice. Vettel is also a big fan of the Beatles. He collects their records and says "Drive My Car" is his favorite song. He also enjoys British comedy shows like Little Britain and Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Starting His Racing Journey

Karting Adventures

Vettel started karting when he was just three years old. He began racing in kart series in 1995 at the age of eight. In 1998, he joined the Red Bull Junior Team. He won many titles, including the Junior Monaco Kart Cup in 2001.

Moving to Open-Wheel Cars

Formula BMW Success

In 2003, Vettel moved up to open-wheel cars. He got a chance to test a Reynard Motorsport Champ Car. A year later, he won the 2004 Formula BMW ADAC championship. He achieved an amazing 18 victories out of 20 races that season.

Formula Three and Formula Renault

Vettel raced for ASL Mücke Motorsport in the 2005 Formula 3 Euro Series. He finished fifth overall and won the Rookie Cup. He even tested for the Williams Formula One team as a reward for his success. Later, he tested for the BMW Sauber Formula One team.

Vettel driving at a F3 Euroseries demonstration event in 2006

In 2006, Vettel became a test driver for BMW Sauber. He also competed in the 2006 Formula 3 Euro Series, finishing second. He raced in the 2006 Formula Renault 3.5 Series too. In one race, his finger was almost cut off in an accident. But he still managed to race the next weekend!

Vettel competed in the 2007 Formula Renault 3.5 Series. He won his first race at the Nürburgring. He was leading the championship when he was called up to race full-time in Formula One.

Formula One Career Highlights

Vettel on his race debut at the 2007 United States Grand Prix

BMW Sauber (2006–2007)

First Steps in F1

Vettel became BMW Sauber's third driver at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. He was only 19 years and 53 days old, making him the youngest Formula One driver to take part in a Grand Prix weekend. He even set a record for getting his first fine just nine seconds into his career! This happened because he drove too fast in the pit lane. In his second practice session, he was the fastest in both Friday sessions.

Vettel was confirmed as BMW's test driver for 2007. After another driver had a crash, Vettel replaced him at the 2007 United States Grand Prix. He started seventh and finished eighth. This made him the youngest driver at that time to score a point in Formula One.

Toro Rosso (2007–2008)

Youngest Pole and First Win

Vettel driving for Toro Rosso at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix

In July 2007, BMW let Vettel join Red Bull's Scuderia Toro Rosso team. He replaced another driver from the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix onwards. He also kept his spot for the 2008 season.

At the rainy 2007 Japanese Grand Prix, Vettel was in third place. But he crashed into another car under safety car conditions. Both cars had to stop racing. A week later, he finished fourth at the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix, starting from 17th place. Red Bull's owner said Vettel was a future star. He called him "fast, intelligent, and very interested in the technical side."

After four races in 2008, Vettel was the only driver who hadn't finished a single race. But at the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, he scored his first points of the season, finishing fifth. His team's technical director said that at the 2008 European Grand Prix, Vettel "suddenly understood something about how to drive an F1 car quickly."

At the wet 2008 Italian Grand Prix, Vettel made history. He became the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix. He was 21 years and 74 days old. He led most of the race and finished 12.5 seconds ahead of the next car. This was also Toro Rosso's only win. Earlier that weekend, he had become the youngest driver to get a pole position. His team boss said he would win World Championships. The German media started calling him "Baby Schumi."

Vettel was named 2008 Rookie of the Year at the Autosport Awards.

Red Bull (2009–2014)

Becoming a Champion

Vettel after winning the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix

Vettel driving for Red Bull Racing at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix, where he took the first pole position of the season

In 2009, Vettel joined Red Bull Racing. He started strong at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix. But a crash with another driver made both cars retire. He then took pole position and won the race at the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix. This was Red Bull Racing's first pole and win.

He won more races in Great Britain, Japan, and Abu Dhabi. He finished second in the World Drivers' Championship behind Jenson Button. He also won the 2009 DHL Fastest Lap Award.

Vettel got the first pole position of the 2010 season at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. He led most of the race but finished fourth because of a problem with his car. He got his first win of the season in Malaysia.

In Monaco, Vettel finished second, right behind his teammate. At the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix, Vettel and his teammate collided, forcing Vettel out of the race.

At the 2010 British Grand Prix, Vettel's car had a new front wing. It got damaged, so his teammate's wing was given to him. Vettel qualified first but had a tire puncture during the race. He finished seventh. In Japan, he won from pole position, leading every lap. He became the youngest driver to win at the same track twice. At the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, Vettel led for 45 laps but had to retire due to engine failure. This gave the win to his rival, Fernando Alonso.

With a one-two finish at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix, Vettel and his teammate secured Red Bull Racing's first World Constructors' Championship. Vettel went into the final race in Abu Dhabi needing to win. He won the race from pole position and became the youngest World Drivers' Champion in history.

More Titles and Records

Vettel's win at the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix was his first win in the principality, and his fifth from the first six races of the 2011 season.

Vettel at the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix where, with four races remaining in the season, he became the youngest double World Drivers' Champion

Vettel at the 2012 United States Grand Prix

Vettel started the 2011 season with wins in Australia and Malaysia. He finished second at the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix due to tire problems. In Monaco, Vettel led the race. A slow pit stop and wrong tires made him lose the lead. But he switched to a one-stop strategy and used one set of soft tires for 56 laps. He was caught by other drivers but held them off. The race was stopped with a few laps left, allowing teams to change tires. When the race restarted, Vettel kept the lead and won.

At the 2011 European Grand Prix, Vettel took pole position with the fastest lap ever at that track. He dominated the race and won his sixth race out of eight. He finished second or higher in the first nine races of the season and won at least six of them.

Vettel's streak of front-row starts ended at his home race, the 2011 German Grand Prix, where he finished fourth. In Italy, he got his tenth pole position of the year. A podium finish in Japan secured his second title with four races left. This made him the youngest ever double and back-to-back champion. Vettel won the next race in Korea. He also helped Red Bull win their second World Constructors' Championship. Vettel won his eleventh race of the season in the first-ever 2011 Indian Grand Prix. He led every lap from pole position and set the fastest lap. Vettel broke the record for most pole positions in a season at the final race in Brazil, with 15 poles. He finished the year with 15 poles, 11 wins, and 17 podiums.

Vettel driving for Red Bull Racing at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix

Vettel started the 2012 season with a second place in Australia. He then finished outside the points in Malaysia after a crash. Vettel won the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix to take the lead in the championship. After three races without a podium, he retired at the 2012 European Grand Prix due to a car problem. In Germany, Vettel finished second but got a penalty for overtaking off the track. He dropped to fifth place. He started tenth but finished second in Belgium, moving up to second in the championship. He then retired at the 2012 Italian Grand Prix due to another car problem. This made the gap to the leader grow to 39 points. He won the next race in Singapore. At the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, he won again. With Alonso retiring, Vettel cut the gap to just four points. After winning in Korea, the 2012 Indian Grand Prix brought another victory. Vettel was fastest in all practice sessions, took pole, and led every lap to win.

During qualifying at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Vettel had to stop his car due to a fuel pump issue. He was forced to start from the pit lane (the very back). From last place, Vettel fought his way back to finish third. He started the last race in Brazil with a 13-point lead over Alonso. On the first lap, Vettel spun after an incident. With changing weather, Vettel climbed to sixth place to win the championship by three points. He became the youngest triple world champion. He was also the third driver to win three championships in a row.

Four-Time World Champion

Vettel (left) controversially passing teammate Mark Webber at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, despite team orders to maintain position

Vettel started the first two races of the 2013 season from pole position. At the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, he was much faster than his teammate in qualifying. He won the race, but it was controversial. Vettel ignored team orders and passed his teammate for the lead. His teammate was very angry. The team boss was unhappy but noted that his teammate had also ignored orders before. Vettel said he wasn't sorry for winning and would do it again.

After wins in Bahrain and Canada, his championship lead was cut at the 2013 British Grand Prix. He lost a likely win due to a gearbox problem. Vettel bounced back to win his home race in Germany for the first time. After finishing third in Hungary, Vettel won the last nine races of the season. This included leading every lap from pole position and setting the fastest lap in Singapore and Korea. Vettel set the record for most consecutive race wins with nine. He also became only the third person to achieve consecutive grand slams (pole, win, fastest lap, leading every lap). He secured his fourth world title at the 2013 Indian Grand Prix.

During the season, some fans booed Vettel. Other drivers and the media criticized the booing. Vettel said it had a negative impact on him.

For the 2014 season, drivers picked a unique car number for their career. Vettel chose number five. But as the reigning champion, he used number one for the season. His teammate left, and Daniel Ricciardo replaced him.

Vettel had many car problems during testing in 2014. He had to retire from the first race in Australia. More reliability issues forced him to retire from the Monaco and Austrian races. Vettel qualified on the front row for races in Malaysia, Great Britain, and Hungary. He finished on the podium in Malaysia, Canada, Singapore, and Japan. For the first time in his career, a teammate out-qualified him over a season. Vettel also struggled with his car and tires in 2014. He became the first defending champion since 1998 to not win a race in a season.

In October, Red Bull announced that Vettel would leave the team at the end of the season to join Scuderia Ferrari. He replaced Alonso and partnered with his friend Kimi Räikkönen. Vettel had always wanted to drive for Ferrari. He was not allowed to test the 2014 Ferrari car early. But he was present at the Ferrari test. Vettel made his first appearance in November, driving the 2012 Ferrari car.

Ferrari (2015–2020)

New Team, New Wins

Vettel at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix, where he took his maiden win for Ferrari after two races

Vettel's first race for Ferrari was at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, where he finished third. He then won the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix. This was his first win in over a year and Ferrari's first win in almost two years. After the race, an emotional Vettel honored Michael Schumacher. He said his hero's achievements with Ferrari made the win even more special.

He won the 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix, starting third. He dedicated his win to driver Jules Bianchi, who had recently passed away. Halfway through the season, Vettel was 42 points behind the leader, Lewis Hamilton. In Belgium, Vettel was in third place when his tire burst at high speed on the second-to-last lap. This likely ended his chances for the title. After the race, he complained about the "unacceptable" and "unsafe" Pirelli tires.

Vettel finished second at the 2015 Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari's home race. He then got his first pole position with the team at the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix. This was Ferrari's first pole in three years. Vettel won the race. With Hamilton retiring, Vettel closed the gap in points. Vettel finished the season in third place with three wins and 13 podiums. He called the season a "miracle."

Vettel driving for Ferrari at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix

After a third-place finish at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, Vettel's race in Bahrain ended before it even started because his car broke down. At the 2016 Chinese Grand Prix, Vettel crashed with his teammate on the first lap, but both continued. At the 2016 Russian Grand Prix, Vettel retired on the first lap after two crashes. At the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix, Vettel tried to overtake Max Verstappen. After Verstappen went off track and rejoined ahead, Vettel got angry and spoke to the race director. He later apologized. Vettel then blocked another driver, and he received a ten-second penalty. Although he got seven podium finishes, Vettel did not win any races in 2016.

Championship Challenges

Vettel during pre-season testing for Ferrari in 2017

His third season at Ferrari started with a win in Australia, his first in 18 months. He continued his strong form, winning in Bahrain and Monaco. He finished second in China, Russia, and Spain. In Russia, Vettel got his first pole position in 18 months. Vettel's lead in the standings grew to 25 points after the Monaco Grand Prix. This was Ferrari's first win there since 2001.

In Azerbaijan, Vettel crashed into the back of race leader Hamilton under the safety car. He accused Hamilton of brake testing him. Moments later, Vettel pulled alongside and hit Hamilton's car. He received a ten-second penalty for this. The FIA investigated but Vettel received no further punishment. Vettel took full responsibility and publicly apologized.

Vettel at the 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

Vettel's championship lead was cut to just one point in Great Britain. He had a tire puncture on the second-to-last lap and dropped to seventh. Vettel started from pole in Hungary and kept the lead. He overcame steering problems and won, giving him a 14-point lead. Mercedes cars were very strong after the summer break. Vettel lost the championship lead at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix. This was followed by a first-lap retirement in Singapore after a crash. It was the first time both Ferraris retired on the first lap of a Grand Prix. His title hopes were hurt again in Malaysia. He started last due to a turbo problem but finished fourth. More car problems hit Ferrari in Japan, as Vettel retired due to a spark plug failure. In Mexico, Vettel got his 50th pole position. Verstappen took the lead from Vettel at the start. Vettel then crashed with Hamilton, who went on to win his fourth title. For the first time, Vettel failed to win the championship after leading it earlier in the season.

Vettel driving past his fans at the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix

The 2018 season was called the "Fight For Five" because two four-time world champions were racing. For the second year in a row, Vettel started the season with a win in Australia. He took the lead during a pit stop under the safety car. This was his 100th podium. In Bahrain, Vettel kept the lead from pole position and held off another driver to win his fourth race at that track. At the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen hit him, causing both to spin. Vettel finished eighth, and his championship lead was cut to nine points. For the first time since 2013, Vettel got three pole positions in a row.

At the 2018 Canadian Grand Prix, Vettel won for the third time in 2018 and for the 50th time in his career. He became only the fourth person to reach 50 wins. The next race in France, Vettel lost the championship lead after a crash. He bounced back in Great Britain, passing another driver on the last laps to win. Vettel led his home race in Germany until he slid off the track and hit the wall in the rain. He won in Belgium, passing Hamilton for the win. Contact on the first lap with Hamilton in Italy damaged Vettel's front wing. He dropped to the back but recovered to finish fourth. This left him 30 points behind Hamilton. Ferrari's car upgrades at the Singapore Grand Prix did not work well. Ferrari struggled until the United States Grand Prix, when they went back to their old car setup and found their speed again. Vettel got his first podium in Mexico, but Hamilton won the championship. Fans and experts criticized Vettel for making too many mistakes during the season.

Challenges and Departure from Ferrari

Vettel in action at the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix

After showing good speed in pre-season testing, many thought Vettel and his new teammate Charles Leclerc had the car to win the 2019 season. But the first race in Australia was tough. Vettel qualified third and finished fourth. He finished third in China and Azerbaijan, as Mercedes continued to dominate. Vettel got pole position in Canada, his first pole in 17 races. During the race, he went wide onto the grass. The race officials gave him a five-second penalty because they believed he returned to the track "in an unsafe manner." Vettel crossed the finish line first but lost the win due to the penalty. After the race, he swapped the number signs in front of Hamilton's car and his own empty spot. At the 2019 German Grand Prix, Vettel could not qualify due to a car problem. He started last but climbed to second place in a rainy race. In Italy, Vettel spun and crashed with another car. He received a 10-second penalty and finished 13th. At the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, Vettel won on a track where Ferrari was not expected to do well. This was his fifth win at that track. The next race in Russia, Vettel went from third to first at the start. But he retired soon after with a car problem.

Vettel took pole position in Japan. But he had a bad start, which allowed another driver to take the lead. Vettel was not penalized. After running third for most of the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, a safety car allowed other drivers to pass him. He tried to pass his teammate, but the two Ferraris crashed, and Vettel had to retire. He finished fifth in the championship.

Sebastian Vettel competing for Ferrari on their 1000th Grand Prix

Ferrari later announced they would not continue Vettel's contract after the 2020 season. The team principal said there was "no specific reason" for the decision. The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ferrari found problems with their car after testing and had to redesign it.

The Ferrari car was not fast. Vettel finished the first race in Austria in 10th place. He also received a warning for breaking COVID-19 rules. The next race, at the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix, Vettel retired on the first lap after crashing with his teammate. He finished the season in a disappointing 13th place. His best result was a third place in Turkey. Ferrari finished sixth in the Constructors' standings, their worst result since 1980. Vettel's total of 33 points was his lowest in a full Formula One season.

Aston Martin (2021–2022)

Vettel at the 2021 British Grand Prix

Vettel joined Aston Martin for the 2021 season. In his first race in Bahrain, he got a penalty in qualifying and had to start last. He had a crash during the race, which gave him a time penalty. He finished 15th. His team boss said he wasn't worried. In the fifth race, Vettel scored his first points for the team, finishing fifth in Monaco. At the next race, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he got Aston Martin's first podium with a second-place finish. Vettel also finished second in Hungary. But he was later disqualified because his car did not have enough fuel for a sample. He finished 12th in the Drivers' standings, ahead of his teammate. During the season, Vettel made 132 overtakes, the most of any driver. He won the first Overtake Award.

Vettel at the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, during his final season of Formula One

Vettel missed the first two races of the 2022 season due to COVID-19. Another driver replaced him. In July 2022, Vettel announced he would retire from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season.

Driver Profile

Comparing to Michael Schumacher

Vettel and Michael Schumacher after the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix, where Vettel won his second World Championship title

Vettel's surprise win in 2008 made the media call him "Baby Schumi." This was not just because he was German. It was also because of his driving style, his focus, and how involved he was with his engineers. Vettel played down the comparison, saying he wanted to be the "New Vettel."

However, there were many similarities. Like Schumacher, Vettel grew up in a small town. Schumacher's father was a bricklayer, and Vettel's was a carpenter. Both started racing at the Kerpen karting track near the Nürburgring. Vettel started driving in his garden, going around many times before he could legally drive on roads. He said his love for cars grew from watching Schumacher race.

After winning his first championship in 2010, Vettel said he didn't aim for Schumacher's records. He realized how hard it was to win even one championship. In 2011, a tire company director was impressed that Vettel was the only driver to visit their factory and ask questions. He said, "The only other driver that asks us a lot of questions is Michael Schumacher. It is like seeing the master and the protégé at work."

After Schumacher was badly injured in 2013, Vettel collected an award for Schumacher's life achievements in 2014. In 2014, Vettel said Schumacher was one of his inspirations for joining Ferrari. He said, "When I was a kid, Michael Schumacher in the red car was my greatest idol and now it's an incredible honour to finally get the chance to drive a Ferrari."

Helmet Designs

2017 helmet design

Since his karting days, Vettel worked with helmet designer Jens Munser. At age eight, Vettel wanted Sebastian the crab from The Little Mermaid on his helmet. Vettel's first Formula One helmet was inspired by the Red Bull energy drink logo. In 2008, he added the red cross shape from his hometown's coat of arms to his helmet.

After joining Red Bull in 2009, Vettel often used new helmet designs. Some were small changes, while others were completely new. For example, at the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix, he had a special white and red helmet with Japanese writing. Many of his helmet designs also featured his team members. At the 2012 Italian Grand Prix, Vettel celebrated his 50th helmet design with a "rusty" look and 50 marks. He started his 2013 season with a design honoring Felix Baumgartner's space jump. By the end of 2013, he had used 76 different helmet designs.

For the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, he changed the German flag stripe on his helmet to an Italian flag stripe for Ferrari's home race. After Niki Lauda passed away, Vettel wore a special helmet based on Lauda's last Ferrari helmet at the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix. Vettel kept the German flag stripe design on his helmets at Aston Martin. His final helmet design for the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was called "The Final Lap."

Naming His Cars

Vettel's four championship-winning cars from top-to-bottom: Luscious Liz and Randy Mandy (2010), Kinky Kylie (2011), Abbey (2012) and Hungry Heidi (2013)

Inspired by American bomber pilots from World War II, Vettel started a tradition of naming each of his Formula One cars from 2008 to 2021. He said it was important to have a close relationship with his car.

The car Vettel drove in his first full season in 2008 was named Julie. With this car, he got his first win. When he moved to Red Bull in 2009, he first named his car Kate. But after a crash, he renamed it Kate's Dirty Sister. His first championship-winning car in 2010 was first called Luscious Liz. After a change, it was renamed Randy Mandy. Vettel's next three championship-winning cars were named Kinky Kylie (2011), Abbey (2012), and Hungry Heidi (2013). Hungry Heidi helped him equal Michael Schumacher's record for most wins in a single season and win a record nine races in a row. The 2014 car was named Suzie, and it was the only Red Bull car he didn't win with.

Vettel continued this tradition with Ferrari. He named his 2015 car Eva. His later Ferrari cars were named Margherita (2016), Gina (2017), Loria (2018), Lina (2019), and Lucilla (2020). In 2021, Vettel named his Aston Martin AMR21 car after Honey Ryder. This was a nod to Aston Martin's connection with the James Bond movies. In 2022, Vettel said he would wait for car upgrades before naming it. But he never publicly named his 2022 car, ending his 14-year tradition.

Awards and Recognition

Vettel was named Rookie of the Year in 2008. In 2009, he received the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy for his achievements. He also won the 2009 British Racing Drivers' Club Johnny Wakefield Trophy for the fastest race lap at Silverstone. In 2010, Vettel was voted German Sportspersonality of the Year. He won the Autosport International Racing Driver Award four years in a row (2010-2013). In 2012, he received the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt for his world titles and "exemplary character." Team principals voted him Formula One driver of the year in 2009, 2011, and 2013. He also won the DHL Fastest Lap Award three times. He was named European Sportsperson of the Year in 2010, 2012, and 2013. In 2013, he was the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year. He was named Sportsman of the Year at the 2014 Laureus World Sports Awards. In 2015, he received the Confartigianato Motori Award for Driver of the Year. After retiring in 2022, Vettel received the Autosport Gregor Grant Award for his achievements in motorsport.

Red Bull Racing sponsor Infiniti released a special Sebastian Vettel edition of their Infiniti FX SUV in 2012. It had more engine power and a different body.

Race of Champions Events

Sebastian Vettel at the 2007 Race of Champions

Vettel competed in the 2007 Race of Champions in London. He represented Germany with Michael Schumacher and won the Nations' Cup title. He teamed up with Schumacher from 2008 to 2012, winning the Cup every time.

Vettel returned to the 2015 Race of Champions. He won his first individual Race of Champions title, beating Tom Kristensen in the final. In 2017, Vettel was eliminated early in the individual competition. But he won the Nations' Cup for Germany by himself after his teammate was injured.

In the 2019 event, Vettel teamed up with Mick Schumacher. They finished second in the Nations' Cup. Vettel was eliminated in the group stages of the individual competition, but he won the ROC Skills Challenge. He reached the individual final in 2022 but was beaten by Sébastien Loeb.

Other Activities

Activism and Environment

Vettel is very interested in the environment and social justice. After the 2021 British Grand Prix, he helped clean up litter from the stands. He also worked with children in Austria to build a hotel for bees. Another bee hotel was built at the Suzuka International Racing Course in Japan. Vettel has criticized how F1 races are scheduled. He believes races close to each other should be held on back-to-back weekends to reduce travel emissions. He also held an all-women karting event and wore the pride flag at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vettel said he would boycott the Russian Grand Prix if it had gone ahead.

In May 2022, Vettel appeared on the BBC TV show Question Time. He discussed topics like climate change and energy dependency. The next month, Vettel was on the cover of Attitude magazine. He spoke about supporting an LGBTQ driver in Formula One. In June 2022, during the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix, Vettel wore a T-shirt and helmet patch criticizing Canada's oil sands. He called it "Canada's climate crime." Some people called him a "hypocrite" because his team is sponsored by an oil company. Vettel agreed with the "hypocritical" label but said personal attacks distract from the "bigger picture" of the climate crisis.

SailGP Involvement

On 31 May 2023, Vettel announced he was involved with the Germany SailGP Team. He is a co-owner of the team.

Personal Life

Vettel lives in Thurgovia, Switzerland, near other racing drivers. He describes himself as competitive, private, and impatient. He has appeared in commercials for Head & Shoulders. He also voiced a character in the German version of the 2011 film Cars 2 and a voice assistant in the 2017 film Cars 3. Vettel is a fan of the German football team Eintracht Frankfurt.

Vettel married his childhood friend Hanna Prater in early 2019. They have three children. In 2016, Forbes estimated his yearly income was $41 million. Kimi Räikkönen, his teammate from 2015 to 2018, is a close friend. Besides German, Vettel speaks English, French, and Italian. In July 2022, he created his Instagram account. His first post was to announce his retirement from Formula One.

Formula One Records

Vettel holds the following Formula One records:

Images for kids

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  Sebastian Vettel competing for Ferrari on their 1000th Grand Prix

See also

In Spanish: Sebastian Vettel para niños