Vettel makes his point to secure back-to-back titles

SEBASTIAN VETTEL’S second-worst result of the season was enough to secure the Formula One world title and make him the youngest two-time world champion in the sport’s history.

After nine wins and finishing runner-up on four occasions ahead of yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix, Vettel could only manage third behind Jenson Button who has now chalked up a hat-trick of victories for McLaren this season.

It was not the result Vettel had been hoping for, but, as he only required one point in this race, he actually managed to claim 14 more than was needed. Unsurprisingly, the champagne flowed in the Red Bull Suzuka paddock where the team members wore commemorative T-shirts proclaiming the 24-year-old German’s feat as the 2011 champion.

More importantly, Vettel is the youngest driver to win back-to-back titles, eclipsing the mark set by Fernando Alonso in 2006.

Vettel also joins an elite club of just nine drivers who have won in consecutive years — his name alongside some of the greats in Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jack Brabham, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and Alonso.

Asked to sum up his feelings, Vettel began by admitting “it is difficult to know where to start”, before delivering a three-minute soliloquy.

As for the more salient points of his speech, he said: “We have had a fantastic year, and the good thing is it is not over yet.

“This was a phenomenal, strong result again today, and to win the championship here is fantastic.

“There are so many things I want to say, but it’s hard to remember all of them.

“I am just so thankful to everyone in the team... pushing hard to build two cars, to fight for a lot of points and to fight for the championship.

“We put ourselves in a very, very strong position and it is great to achieve the goal we set ourselves going into this year already.”

Vettel did single out one person for a special mention – trainer Tommi Parmakoski, with whom he has spent most of his time this year.

“He is the one who did not allow me, at any stage this year, to lose my grip, to start to fly, or think about things not in our control,” added Vettel.

“This year we have always been just this one step ahead, and it is down to people like Tommi and other individuals. Every single one (in the team) has pushed more than 100% to do his job and keep us on the right track. There is no secret – you just take it step by step, and I could not have done it alone.

“I have needed all the support I could get from the team, from Mark (Webber), from everyone outside the team working for me.”

Naturally, such a triumph took the edge off Button’s superb day, in particular given his connections with Japan – his second home as he has described it — through girlfriend Jessica Michibata.

After parking up at the end of the pit straight and standing on top of his car to take the acclaim from the crowd, it left Button with a long run past the garages to the podium where his celebrations were slightly more low key.

But with so much focus on Japan following the natural disaster that took place in March, killing more than 15,000 people, the win was a poignant one for the 31-year-old Briton.

“This circuit is very special to all of us,” said Button.

“We love this place, so to get a victory here in front of such an amazing Japanese crowd really does mean a lot.