Two titles down; six more to go: In his early days, Sebastian Vettel was hailed as ‘the new Schumacher’, and with good reason. Since making his Formula 1 debut in 2007, ever-chilled long-time Red Bull protégé ‘Seb’ has proved as lightning fast as the seven-times champion. He scored a shock win for the midfield Toro Rosso team in the rain of Monza in 2008 (becoming Formula 1’s youngest race winner), before emerging as a title contender in 2009.

 

In 2010, 10 poles and five wins put him right into the thick of the title fight. But Vettel saved the best for last, and his victory in the season-finale in Abu Dhabi put him into the lead of the drivers’ standings for the first time all year. But, it’s being ahead at the right moment that matters, and in 2011, he looked the champion from the very start of the year. Vettel – Formula 1’s youngest ever titlist – fully deserved his double. He completed the year with a new record of 15 pole positions in one season, to go along with 17 podiums from 19 races, 11 of which were victories. Could an unprecedented “three-peat” be awaiting him in 2012?