2009 F1 - Sebastian Vettel Title Challenge

Born on July 3, 1987 in Heppenheim, Germany, Sebastian Vettel received his first racing kart at age three, and his motorsports career was underway. He drove a kart on a proper race track for the first time when he was five. By age seven he was participating as a member of a mini klasse kart league. In fact, his father was a hill-climb racer who also competed in karting races.

In 1995, Sebastian began racing karts competitively. In 2001, he emerged victorious as the winner of the Junior Monaco Kart Cup. During Sebastian's karting career, Formula One driver Michael Schumacher once presented him with a victory trophy.

This was a thrilling moment for the young racer, as Michael Schumacher was his racing idol. It is an honour he treasures to this day. Another sporting legend that Sebastian Vettel admires is tennis star Roger Federer. Masters at their sport, both men's achievements no doubt inspire Sebastian to perform in kind.

The year 2003 saw Sebastian move up to open-wheel racing. The next year he won the 2004 German Formula BMW Championship. That year saw him flash across the finish line in first place 18 times out of 20 races.

In 2005, he won the top rookie award. This was for his efforts in the Formula Three Euroseries. By 2007 he was a BMW Sauber test driver. He subsequently received a call up to Formula One that season.

The call up proved successful for the passionate young driver. In June he participated in his first Formula One race. This was the United States Grand Prix held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In this race, Sebastian finished eighth and achieved his first Formula One driver's point. He was the youngest driver to ever gain a point in Formula One. He was 19 years and 349 days old at the time.

The BMW Sauber team released him on July 31, 2007 so he could join the Scuderia Toro Rosso Team (Team Red Bull). In 2007, Sebastian finished with six points in the driver standings, from the two teams he drove for. He was also part of the German team that won the 2007 Race of Champions. His teammate for this event was none other than his idol Michael Schumacher.

The following year saw Sebastian Vettel propel his career to the next level. He won his first Formula One Race. This tremendous achievement took place on September 14 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, in Monza, Italy. On this course was the Italian Grand Prix, and Sebastian crossed the finish line victorious for the 53 lap race.

During qualifying for this Italian Grand Prix, Sebastian secured the pole position. He became the youngest Formula One racer to ever win a pole position. His victory in the race also made him the youngest Formula One driver to win a race. He was 21 years and 74 days old when the checkered flag came down on him at the finish line.

Sebastian finished his first full season of Formula One racing in eighth place in the driver standings. He finished with 35 points overall for the year. To date in his Formula One career he has a total of 41 points.

Sebastian Vettel's career has not been without trial. There is always the risk of injury in motor sports despite safety precautions taken. In 2006, he suffered an injury at the World Series Renault at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. His finger was almost completely sliced off due to flying car wreckage pieces. Diagnosis was to take some holidays and that he would sit out several weeks before racing again. However, the next week he was in the driver's seat and came sixth in a race.

Recently Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher teamed up once again for Germany. This was for the 2008 version of the Race of Champions. Held at London's Wembley Stadium on December 14, the two drivers again won the title. The Master and still developing student worked their wonders on the track together.

The 2009 Formula One racing season is not too far away. This year Sebastian Vettel will once again don the uniform of Scuderia Toro Rosso. He will be in car #15, leaving burning tyre rubber in his wake as he speeds onward.

It's apparent that Sebastian Vettel knows velocity. It's evident in his driving skills. It's also evident in the way his career is moving forward at breakneck speed. He is young, fast and one who has an interest in the technical aspects of motor sports. This bodes well for his chances in Formula One this year.

By: Michel Lyn-7925

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The F1 season starts in March, and includes the Monaco Grand Prix in May run around the streets of Monte Carlo and Casino Square, home to the famous blackjack tables. Details about this year's Monaco Grand Prix, the Monaco banks and how to establish Monaco private banking are at monacoproperty.net