Abu Dhabi - German Sebastian Vettel was crowned as the youngest champion in Formula One history on Sunday when he outstripped all his rivals and won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for Red Bull.
At 23 years and 106 days, Vettel took the title with a faultless drive from pole position to the chequered flag, resisting a strong challenge from Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, who in 2008 had achieved the same feat at the age of 23 and 307 days.
Hamilton came home second after a long period of frustration behind Pole Robert Kubica’s Renault and was followed home by his teammate and compatriot Jenson Button, the 2009 winner.
Pre-race series leader and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and Vettel’s Australian teammate Mark Webber fell out of contention for the title when they emerged down the field after early pitstops.
Understanably, an emotional Vettel wept both in his car on his slowing down lap and also on the podium as the German anthem was played.
His team chief Briton Christian Horner told him: “Sebastian, you are the world champion.” Vettel replied with screams and sobs. “I love you,” he shouted.
Finn Keke Rosberg came home fourth for Mercedes on a day when his 41-year-old teammate and compatriot Michael Schumacher had been forced to retire following a big accident on the opening lap.
Kubica came fifth ahead of his teammate Russian Vitaly Petrov of Renault with Alonso back in seventh place.
Vettel ended up with 256 points to take the title ahead of Alonso on 252, Webber on 242, and Hamilton on 240.
It was a crushing win by Vettel and swept away any controversy about team orders.
Horner said: “It’s unbelievable! It’s been a very emotional week for this team. It’s the first time Sebastian has led the world championship and he’s done it when it counted, at the last race of the year.
Vettel made a clean start from his 10th pole of the season, leading away ahead of Hamilton and Button, who took advantage of a cautious start from Alonso to take third place.
The rest stayed in order at the front of the field with Massa ahead of Barrichello, but there was drama almost immediately at turn six where Schumacher spun, under pressure from Rosberg, and was left facing the wrong way as he recovered.
Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi could do nothing to avoid Schumacher as he rounded the corner and drove into the German’s car. The impact left the Force India driver off the circuit and across Schumacher’s cockpit, narrowly missing his head.
The safety car was called for immediately and the race ran in procession for the opening five laps until it resumed for lap six with Vettel ahead of Hamilton, Button, Alonso and Webber.
Vettel had pitted, at phenomenal speed, after 24 laps. Vettel rejoined ahead of Hamilton on the road and after clocking a fastest lap himself was second nearly 15 seconds behind Button.
Button pitted after 39 laps, giving Vettel the lead and a grip on both the race and the championship with 15 laps remaining and he never let go. (Tim Collings)
Agence France-Presse