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Sebastian Vettel put his name on the radar from the moment he made his debut.
Little did anybody know at the time, we were witnessing the sporting equivalent of spontaneous combustion…
Having been drafted by BMW Sauber to replace an injured Robert Kubica for the 2007 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, the German promptly qualified an eye-catching seventh – just as another German who ended up having a pretty handy career had done on his own debut sixteen years earlier.
The then 19-year-old went on to become the youngest ever point scorer, finishing eighth.
Though Kubica returned for the next race, Vettel had made a lasting impression, and it was inevitable that he’d return to the grid sooner than later.
So it proved when just a few races later, the German replaced uninspiring American Scott Speed at Red Bull’s junior outfit Toro Rosso.
He didn’t set the world alight during his initial outings, after all, the STR2 was nothing on the podium contending BMW, however an incident which took place at a monsoonal Japanese Grand Prix set the pendulum in motion for the years’ to come.
Running third at Fuji, a race held in torrential rain, Vettel was trailing future teammate Mark Webber, when the safety car was deployed.
Suddenly, after what appeared to be a rookie lapse in concentration, Vettel speared into the back of the Australian, putting both out on the spot.
Webber was livid, infamously remarking “It’s kids isn’t it… kids with not enough experience – you do a good job and then they fuck it all up.”
It later came to light that leader and eventual race victor, Lewis Hamilton, had been pacing inconsistently behind the safety car, backing an innocent Webber into the German’s path.
But the damage had been done, Vettel and Webber never did see eye to eye from this moment.
Just a week later at China, Vettel came home in a stunning fourth place, if he’d already gained people’s curiosity, he had now surely attracted their attention.
Fast forward less than twelve months, and Vettel, by this stage twenty, claimed yet another record, when he won a rain-hit Italian Grand Prix, achieved from pole position no less – giving the operation previously known as Minardi their first, and to date, only victory.
At this stage, Vettel had already been confirmed as David Coulthard’s replacement at Red Bull for 2009, so his triumph served only to vindicate the decision.
The new for ’09 regulations forced every outfit back to the drawing board, offering the master of adaptation, Adrian Newey, the chance to again be a pioneer
Though Newey wasn’t able to design a championship winning package first time around – thanks in large part to the title-winning Brawn GP enjoying a contentious double diffuser advantage in the opening races, there was no doubting by the end of this season that Red Bull boasted the fastest car on the grid.
Vettel won four races during this campaign, three of these coming at the final four events, to end up just eleven points adrift of World Champion, Jenson Button.
This left him as favourite in the eyes of many to become the youngest person to achieve ultimate greatness the following season.
Just how right everybody was, we were about to realise…
Tomorrow – The Vettel Era – the final part.
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