Germany's Sebastian Vettel is youngest Formula One champion

At 23 years and 135 days, Vettel beat the mark of Lewis Hamilton - who finished second in this race ahead of his McLaren team-mate and outgoing world champion Jenson Button - by 166 days.

 

It guaranteed Vettel the title by four points from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso who finished a distant seventh.

 

Vettel was trailing Championship leader Fernando Alonso by 15 points when he came to Abu Dhabi but never relinquished the lead after having started on pole position barring for a pit stop on lap 24 to record his fifth victory of the year.

“Unbelievable!” screamed an emotional Vettel after hearing the news from team principal Christian Horner that he was the new world champion.

“It was an incredible tough season for myself and all of us in the team physically and mentally.

“I always believed in the car and the team, believed in myself. It’s a special day all round,” said Vettel who kept repeating at the post-race conference that it was unbelievable.

He described the Red Bull car which brought him a record 10 pole positions and five victories this season as “phenomenal”.

“It’s a dream come true. After so many ups and downs this season, it is unbelievable,” he said.

It was a repeat of his triumph in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year. It was double celebration for Red Bull who had claimed the Contructors’ title in the Brazil Grand Prix last week which was also won by Vettel.

Two-time world champion Alonso of Ferrari lagged behind in after being off the pace following a pit stop on lap 15 and finished in seventh place.

Vettel finished with 256 points ahead of former world champion Lewis Hamilton the previous youngest champion and Button who completed the podium in Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton, the 2008 champion, was the first to congratulate Vettel as they emerged from the cockpit of their cars.

 

Out on the track, however, there was consternation when Alonso drew up alongside Vitaly Petrov as the Spaniard wagged his finger at the Renault driver after being held up for around 40 laps.

 

Although the championship was not in his hands before the race with Alonso needing to finish among the top five to become the youngest triple world champion, Vettel charted his own destiny by streaking ahead of Hamilton at the start and when Button took his first pit stop on lap 38.

Alonso finished second in the Drivers’ Championship with 252 points while Vettel’s Red Bull team mate Mark Webber took third place with 242 points after finishing eight.

Earlier, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher survived a horrific accident in the opening lap of the title decider in Abu Dhabi.

It was sparked by a nudge from Nico Rosberg on Mercedes team-mate Schumacher on the approach into turn six, a sharp right-hander.

 

The minor impact was enough to spin Schumacher into oncoming traffic and facing the wrong way, leaving Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi with no option.

 

Liuzzi then drove over the front of Schumacher’s left-front wheel, the front wing of his car narrowly missing the German - who was left helpless inside the cockpit.

 

Another few inches to Liuzzi’s left and his car would definitely have rammed into Schumacher’s helmet, but luckily the German emerged unscathed.

 

Amazingly Schumacher who started eight on the grid appeared unhurt in the incident which ended his maiden appearance in Abu Dhabi after making a comeback last December.

Pole sitter Vettel got off to a great start followed by Hamilton’s McLaren team mate Button jumping to fourth spot by overtaking Alonso.

Webber who trailed Alonso by just eight points before the start of the race slipped to the back of the pack early clearly struggling with his car after having started fifth on the grid.

The Drivers’ Championship trophy was presented by Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Court of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince while the Constructors’ Championship trophy was given away by Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

UAE Minister for Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi gave the Drivers’ Championship runner-up trophy while FIA Vice-President for Sport and President of the Automobile and Touring Club of UAE Mohammed bin Sulayem gave away the third prize.

Among the many celebrities at the event was King Juan Carlos of Spain.