Under the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu-Dhabi 's floodlights, German driver Sebastian Vettel added a new Formula One record to his list as youngest winner of the championship at 23 years. On Saturday, Vettel took the title at the final race of this year's competition . Starting from pole position, the Red Bull Racing driver led the race right through except during pit stops, when reigning world champion Jenson Button led for a few laps. Sebastian Vettel is the youngest Formula-1 world champion at the age of 23 years Championship leader Fernando Alonso started the race 11 points ahead of Mark Webber . With 25 points for a win, 18 for second and 15 for third, the Spaniard only needed to finish second to secure his third world championship. With a 15-point lag behind Alonso, Sebastian Vettel was third in the championship standings; winning the championship depended on neither Alonso nor Webber finishing on the podium. A major accident between Michael Schumacher and Vintantonio Liuzzi on the first lap of the race triggered deployment of the safety car . Alonso and Webber were among drivers who decided to make earlier than planned pit stops while racing was resricted. However, they rejoined the track behind the Renault of Vitaly Petrov , who proved extremely difficult to overtake. Both remained stuck behind Petrov for the remainder of the race, finishing 7th and 8th respectively to score 6 and 4 points. Sebastian Vettel went on to win the race ahead of the two McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button , scoring 25 championship points to give a total of 256 - only 4 ahead of Alonso. In 2007, he replaced an injured Robert Kubica in the United States Grand Prix . Finishing 8th and collecting one championship point; this his first record was youngest driver to score a point in F1. In 2008, Vettel had the opportunity to race for a full season with Toro Rosso , winning what remains that team's only race victory. At the Italian Grand Prix , he became the youngest driver to qualify in pole position and youngest race winner. In 2009, he moved to Red Bull Racing , scoring that team’s first pole position and first race victory. He went on to finish second in the world championship.
Under the in 's floodlights, German driver added a new Formula One record to his list as youngest winner of the championship at 23 years. On Saturday, Vettel took the title at of . Starting from pole position, the driver led the race right through except during pit stops, when reigning world champion led for a few laps. Sebastian Vettel is the youngest Formula-1 world champion at the age of 23 years Championship leader started the race 11 points ahead of . With 25 points for a win, 18 for second and 15 for third, the Spaniard only needed to finish second to secure his third world championship. With a 15-point lag behind Alonso, Sebastian Vettel was third in the championship standings; winning the championship depended on neither Alonso nor Webber finishing on the podium. A major accident between and on the first lap of the race triggered deployment of the . Alonso and Webber were among drivers who decided to make earlier than planned pit stops while racing was resricted. However, they rejoined the track behind the of , who proved extremely difficult to overtake. Both remained stuck behind Petrov for the remainder of the race, finishing 7th and 8th respectively to score 6 and 4 points. Sebastian Vettel went on to win the race ahead of the two of and , scoring 25 championship points to give a total of 256 - only 4 ahead of Alonso. In 2007, he replaced an injured in the . Finishing 8th and collecting one championship point; this his first record was youngest driver to score a point in F1. In 2008, Vettel had the opportunity to race for a full season with , winning what remains that team's only race victory. At the , he became the youngest driver to qualify in pole position and youngest race winner. In 2009, he moved to , scoring that team’s first pole position and first race victory. He went on to finish second in the world championship.
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Yas Marina Circuit in Abu-Dhabi
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Sebastian Vettel
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the final race of this year's competition
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Red Bull Racing
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Jenson Button
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Fernando Alonso
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Mark Webber
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Michael Schumacher and Vintantonio Liuzzi
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safety car
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Renault of Vitaly Petrov
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McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button
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Robert Kubica in the United States Grand Prix
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Toro Rosso
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Italian Grand Prix
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Red Bull Racing