Timeline of a champion: Sebastian Vettel's stunning rise

Below is a timeline of Sebastian Vettel’s career, who sealed his fourth straight F1 title after winning the Indian GP: 2006 – After an impressive Red Bull-backed junior career, signs on as BMW’s reserve driver and, at just 19 years of age, becomes the youngest-ever driver to take part in a Grand Prix weekend on his first Friday outing at that year’s Turkish Grand Prix. 2007 – Continues in his role as BMW reserve driver. Makes his Grand Prix debut with BMW at the U.S. Grand Prix, substituting for Robert Kubica who is suffering from bruises, a sprained ankle and a concussion as a result of his horrifying crash in the previous race in Canada. Qualifies a strong seventh and drives a solid race to finish eighth and become the sport’s youngest points-scorer. [caption id=“attachment_1197311” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Vettel celebrates after winning the Indian GP. AP[/caption] Moves up to a full-time race drive with Toro Rosso mid-season and finishes a fine fourth in China, helping the team to its best ever finish. Despite the impressive drives, Vettel is still a rookie and there are mistakes, most notably at the Japanese Grand Prix where the young German runs into the back of future team-mate Mark Webber’s Red Bull behind the safety car in appalling conditions, ending the Australian’s hopes of a second-placed finish, possibly even a win, his own podium chances. 2008 – Breakthrough year for Vettel. Scores his debut Formula One win at the Italian Grand Prix, absolutely dominating proceedings from pole position in torrential rain. Report: Vettel wins fourth straight title at Indian GP Images: In India, it’s all about Vettel Number Cruncher: How Vettel changes the record books I know why I get booed: Vettel 2009 – Duly promoted to the senior Red Bull squad. Jenson Button and Brawn GP dominate early on in the season but Vettel emerges as a dark horse title contender late in the year as the Adrian Newey-designed Red Bull hits its stride. Takes four wins in the year to finish second in the drivers’ standings. 2010 – It’s clear Red Bull have the fastest car but unreliability and mistakes hamper Vettel’s title challenge. The changing fortunes of the principal protagonists throughout the season ensure five drivers are in contention for the title until late in what turns out to be a very close season. But Vettel and Red Bull steal the crown from under Fernando Alonso and Ferrari’s noses at the season finale. The only time Vettel leads the standings all year is after that season finale. 2011 – Wins his second world title with an absolutely dominant showing reminiscent of the Schumacher years. Scores 11 wins and 15 pole positions to win the title with four races still to go. 2012 – Not as dominant a year as 2011 and doesn’t win until the fourth round in Bahrain. At one point mid-season, the title looks lost but Vettel and Red Bull hit a purple patch of form to win four races on the trot late in the season. That winning streak combined with ill luck for his Ferrari rival Fernando Alonso help Vettel overhaul the Spaniard in the standings and the German ends the year as the youngest ever triple champion. Current season Clinches his fourth straight drivers title in India with three races to spare and extends his winning streak to six successive races. Becomes the first man to win his first four titles in succession and joins Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher as only the fourth driver to win four titles. But the reigning world champion courts controversy early in the year, ignoring team-orders to rob team-mate Mark Webber of the win, revealing the ruthless edge to his character that has always existed beneath that easy going, chirpy façade.