He won 18 of 20 starts in Formula BMW in 2004, won on his debut in the World Series by Renault, and stormed F1 to become the youngest point scorer, pole sitter, race winner and world champion.
This collection of 100 pictures looks back on his achievements so far.
2004: An early sighting of the famous Vettel finger – the braces are long gone now, though
2004: One of many appearances at the top of the podium in Formula BMW
Sebastian Vettel, Formula BMW, Nurburgring, 2004
Sebastian Vettel, Formula BMW, Norising, 2004
Sebastian Vettel, Formula BMW, Oschersleben, 2004
2004: Congratulations from Buemi at Oschersleben
Sebastian Vettel, Formula BMW, Norising, 2004
Sebastian Vettel, Oschersleben, F3 Euroseries, 2005
2005: Sharing the podium at Zandvoort with Lewis Hamilton and Giedo van der Garde
2005: In the Macau Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel, Robert Kubica, Lucas di Grassi, Macau Grand Prix, 2005
2005: Testing for Williams at Jerez
2005: Testing for Williams at Jerez
2006: On the podium at the Norisring in F3
2006: F3 Euroseries race at Brands Hatch
2006: On the F3 Euroseries podium with Paul di Resta Jonathan Summerton at Brands Hatch
Sebastian Vettel, Formula Renault 3.5, Misano, 2006
Sebastian Vettel, World Series by Renault, Misano, 2006
Sebastian Vettel, ASM, Formula Three, 2005
2006: Racing in the World Series by Renault
2006: World Series by Renault at Spa
2006: Heading out for his first practice session at Istanbul
2006: Testing for BMW at Jerez
Mario Theissen, Sebastian Vettel, BMW, 2006
Sebastian Vettel, BMW, 2006
2006: Testing for BMW
2006: In his first F1 practice session at Istanbul
2006: Interviewed by reporters after topping Friday practice at his first F1 weekend
2006: Practising for BMW a Interlagos
2007: Beginning the World Series by Renault season at Monza
2007: World Series by Renault at Monaco
Sebastian Vettel, World Series by Renault, Monaco, 2007
2007: F1 race debut at Indianapolis for BMW
Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, Hungaroring, 2007
2007: Second outing for Toro Rosso at Istanbul
2007: A spin in qualifying at Fuji
2007: His Fuji race ended in disaster when he crashed into Mark Webber behind the safety car
Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Jarno Trulli, Shanghai, 2007
2007: He recovered from the Fuji debacle by taking fourth at Shanghai
2008: Learning the Singapore street circuit in practice
2008: Vettel crosses the line to win the Italian Grand Prix
Start, Monza, 2008
2008: Celebrating his first win
Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, Monza, 2008
2008: On the podium after his first win
Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, Monza, 2008
Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, Monza, 2008
2008: Gerhard Berger congratulates Vettel on his first win
2008: In practice for Toro Rosso at Fuji
2008: Alongside Coulthard, whose place he took at Red Bull the following year
2009: A move to Red Bull saw Vettel’s name appearing at the top of the times sheets more often
2009: Trying out the RB5 at the Circuit de Catalunya
2009: Testing at the Circuit de Catalunya
2009: The start of his first race for Red Bull
2009: His second win came in another very wet race at Shanghai
2009: First win for Red Bull at Shanghai
2009: The first one-two for Red Bull
2009: A moment’s peace after his first win for Red Bull
2009: Vettel’s helmet for his home race at the Nurburgring
2009: Retiring with damage at Valencia
2009: In the pits at Singapore
2009: A win at Suzuka kept him in the title hunt
2009: Ending the season with a win in Abu Dhabi
2010: Testing the RB6 at Jerez
2010: Early testing hinted at the RB6’s potential
2010: Button won in Melbourne after Vettel hit trouble
2010: The team cheer Vettel’s overdue first win of the year at Sepang
2010: Another pole position at Shanghai
2010: Football match in Monte-Carlo with ex-Red Bull driver Vitantonio Liuzzi
2010: Vettel had to give best to team mate Webber at Monaco
2010: Trouble brewing – Vettel chases down Webber at Istanbul
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Istanbul, 2010
2010: The crash with Webber
2010: Another potential win gone, this time after hitting his team mate
2010: Vettel’s damaged RB6 at Istanbul
2010: Facing the press after colliding with Webber
2010: An emphatic win on the streets of Valencia
2010: Contact at the start at Silverstone ruined his race
2010: Getting ready for the start at Hockenheim
2010: Congratulating title rival Alonso in Hockenheim
2010: What should have been a win in Hungary became third after a safety car blunder
2010: A last-lap pit stop in Monza helped him to fourth
2010: Vettel won again at Suzuka in 2010
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Suzuka, 2010
2010: Vettel and his four championship rivals
2010: Presenting a birthday present to Mr F1 – and confirmed Vettel fan – Bernie Ecclestone
2010: Engine failure while leading in Korea threatened to extinguish his championship hopes
Vettel beats surprise pole sitter Hulkenberg to turn one, 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix start, Interlagos
Sebastian Vettel, Christian Horner, Mark Webber, Red Bull, Interlagos, 2010
2010: A crucial win in Interlagos
2010: Celebrating at Interlagos
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Abu Dhabi, 2010
2010: Michael Schumacher congratulates Vettel on his title
2010: The 2011 title defence starts here – Pirelli tyre testing at Yas Marina
Excellent photos. Although in the 3rd and 4th pictures it’s difficult to tell who he is, as most drivers have a plain Red Bull checkers logo on their helmet.
Nice to see that people like Kubica Hamilton Vettel & many others have fought between then in various series between them in the past & they again fight in F1.
OKU
26th November 2010, 13:04
Brilliant collection!
Thank you, Keith.
TommyB (@tommyb89)
26th November 2010, 18:16
Agreed, Great photos Keith and thanks for sharing.
I love how different he looked in 2004 and then in 2005 he looks exactly how he does now.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
29th November 2010, 3:56
He must have been one of the youngest drivers in each category he ever participated in! And thanks for sharing these photos Keith. :)
sumedh
26th November 2010, 13:10
The finger didn’t come till his pole position in Monza. His celebrations before that seem very awkward.
Shomir
26th November 2010, 13:29
Look at the first photo
sumedh
26th November 2010, 13:57
Ohh!! I saw the 2004 Formula BMW picture first.
Mc Phisto
26th November 2010, 13:18
I love the 2008 STR.
BasCB (@bascb)
26th November 2010, 15:59
They had a lot better livery than Red Bull at the time.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
26th November 2010, 13:27
The first picture is an absolute classic! I want to blow it up and take it with me to Spa next year :)
Fixy (@)
26th November 2010, 13:48
Excellent photos. Although in the 3rd and 4th pictures it’s difficult to tell who he is, as most drivers have a plain Red Bull checkers logo on their helmet.
slr
26th November 2010, 15:56
That “spin in qualifying at Fuji” actually happened during the race when Vettel collided with Alonso.
Scalextric
26th November 2010, 16:30
Vettel’s early carting experience in this video on the Red Bull site.
Icthyes
26th November 2010, 17:49
Is it worrying that Vettel and Hamilton look exactly the same as they did in that photo? :D
Nice to see that old Toro Rosso again, I long for the days when you could tell them apart from Red Bull…
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
27th November 2010, 3:12
If they adopt the sugar-free livery it will be incredibly easy, so come on STR do it.
George (@george)
26th November 2010, 18:15
Brilliant collection, thanks Keith.
wasiF1
27th November 2010, 6:35
Nice to see that people like Kubica Hamilton Vettel & many others have fought between then in various series between them in the past & they again fight in F1.
nena
27th November 2010, 12:29
Thank you Keith. Many funny photos;-) I like your blog very much!