Vettel retains Formula One world title in Japan
Germany’s Sebastian Vettel retains the Formula One drivers’ championship after finishing third at the Japanese grand prix. Britain’s Jenson Button won the race.
The Red Bull driver had needed just one point to clinch his second successive crown, while Jenson Button had to win at Suzuka to have any chance of keeping the championship open for another weekend.
Spain’s Fernando Alonso finished second.
With four races remaining, Vettel now leads Button by an insurmountable 114 points.
Vettel, who is 24, becomes only the ninth driver – and the youngest – to win back-to-back crowns. He now joins an elite club whose members include Juan Manuel Fangio, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
The German became the youngest-ever world champion when he won the 2010 drivers’ championship.
At the end of the race Red Bull team principal Christian Horner announced over the radio: “Sebastian, you’re the 2011 world champion. Well done.”
In relpy, an emotional Vettel said: “Thank you so much, every single one, every single one. We took nothing for granted and we did it.”
Vettel, who has dominated this season’s Formula One championship, has won grands prix in Australia, Malaysia, Turkey, Spain, Monaco, Valencia, Belgium, Italy and Singapore.