Sebastian Vettel; Future Idol

Sebastian Vettel (born July 3, 1987 in Heppenheim) is a German race car driver. He has been the third (test and reserve) driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team from the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix onwards. By taking part in Friday practice for the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, Vettel became the youngest ever Formula One driver to drive at a Grand Prix meeting, at 19 years and 53 days. (Mike Thackwell remains the youngest driver to compete in a championship Grand Prix race; Nico Rosberg the youngest to drive an F1 car in private testing. He also became the quickest driver to get a fine in F1, being fined $1,000 nine seconds into his career, after speeding in the pitlane. He also became the sixth youngest driver to start a Grand Prix and the youngest driver to score points in a Grand Prix.
Vettel started racing karts in 1995, winning various titles. In 2003, he upgraded to open-wheel cars, and won the 2004 German Formula BMW Championship with 18 victories from 20 races.

In 2005 he drove for ASL Mucke Motorsport in the Formula Three Euroseries. He was placed fifth in the final standings with 64 points, winning the year's top rookie honours. He did not win any races, but this was largely due to the championship's domination by Lewis Hamilton. Despite, this, he tested the Williams FW27 Formula One car on September 27 as a reward for this Formula BMW success. He then went on to test for the BMW Sauber team.

Vettel finished as runner-up in the 2006 F3 Euroseries, behind series leader Paul di Resta. He also made his début in the World Series by Renault at Misano, winning after Pastor Maldonado was disqualified.However, at the next round at Spa-Francorchamps, his finger was almost sliced off by flying débris in an accident, and he was expected to be out of racing for several weeks. However, he managed to compete in the Ultimate Masters of F3 at Zandvoort the following weekend, finishing in sixth place. He also set third fastest lap time, and it surprised his ASM team boss Frédéric Vasseur. Vasseur said: "I was impressed for sure, because at the beginning of the week I was sure he wouldn't race! But he showed good pace from the first practice session. I can't imagine he's 100 per cent but at least we know we can be competitive in the next F3 Euroseries round at the Nürburgring next weekend - that's important."
Vettel during practice at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Vettel during practice at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Vettel has been BMW Sauber's third driver since the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, when former incumbent Robert Kubica was called up to replace the departed Jacques Villeneuve for the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Vettel impressed on his testing début by setting fastest time in second Friday Free Practice during the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. The young German also impressed on his second testing session in the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, setting the fastest time in both Friday practice sessions, a race weekend in which all the BMW cars were quick, with his predecessor Robert Kubica finishing on the podium in the race.

He has been confimed as BMW's test driver for 2007, and is also competing in the World Series by Renault Championship, where he had his first win at the Nürburgring.

Following the serious crash of regular BMW driver Robert Kubica in Canada, Vettel substituted for him at the US Grand Prix and started in seventh position on the grid, finishing in 8th position, thanks to Nico Rosberg's late retirement, to take his first F1 World Championship point and became the youngest driver ever to score a point in Formula One (at the age of 19 years and 349 days), a record previously held by Jenson Button - who was 20 years and 67 days old when he finished 6th at the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix.