He began the 2007 season racing in World Series by Renault. Vettel was fastest of all in Friday practice at his first weekend in Turkey, where not only did he also become the youngest driver to participate in a Grand Prix weekend (aged 19 years and 53 days), but he also collected a fine for speeding in the pit lane on the way to the track for the first time. Nonetheless Vettel joined BMW’s F1 team as a test driver and became their Friday driver after Robert Kubica was promoted to the race team in Jacques Villeneuve’s place. His right index finger was almost severed and had to be stitched back together. He also appeared at the next round at Spa but badly injured his hand in a 170mph crash. A debut appearance in the World Series by Renault proved much more fruitful – Vettel won both races at Misano. The following year Vettel joined Paul di Resta at ASM but finished second to his team mate in the championship.

Still aged only 18, he had to ask his school teacher for time off to do the test. Thanks to his BMW connections Vettel made his debut as an F1 tester for the Williams team.

The championship was dominated by Lewis Hamilton and ASM – Vettel’s ASL team didn’t win a single race, though he was the top rookie. The following season he was fifth in the Formula Three Euroseries. The following year, aged 17, he emphatically won the title, taking 18 wins from 20 starts and 387 points from a maximum of 400. He finished second in the 2003 Formula BMW Germany championship and was top rookie. The following year he was sixth in the Senior ICA Kart Championship and then moved into car racing. Vettel spent eight years in karts, winning the German Junior Karting Championship, Monaco Kart Cup and European Junior Karting Championship in 2001. In 2010 he became the youngest ever Formula One world champion and he has held on to the title ever since.

Sebastian Vettel made astonishingly rapid and successful progress through the lower ranks of motorsport. Find all RaceFans who support Sebastian Vettel

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