Sebastian Vettel has had quite an autumn. In September he thrilled the Monza crowd by driving Michael Schumacher's 2002 title-winning Ferrari F2002 as part of the Italian Grand Prix celebration of his childhood hero, calling it "a very emotional moment". He has also been confirmed for the Race of Champions in Wellington, New Zealand, in January 2027, which will be his 14th appearance at the event.
Earlier this year he received The Perfect World Foundation Award in Gothenburg for his environmental work. Not bad for a man who retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2022 with four world titles and 53 Grand Prix wins. Browse our full Formula 1 collection.
Sebastian Vettel Fact File
| Full name | Sebastian Vettel |
|---|---|
| Date of birth (age) | 3 July 1987 (39) |
| Place of birth | Heppenheim, Hesse, West Germany |
| Discipline | Formula 1 driver |
| Nationality | German |
| Current team/status | Retired from F1 (end of 2022); co-owner of the Germany SailGP team |
| Car number | 5 |
| Nickname | Baby Schumi |
Career History
| Years | Team | Wins | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | BMW Sauber (one race) | 0 | 0 |
| 2007–2008 | Toro Rosso | 1 | 0 |
| 2009–2014 | Red Bull | 38 | 4 |
| 2015–2020 | Ferrari | 14 | 0 |
| 2021–2022 | Aston Martin | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 299 starts | 53 | 4 |
Grand Prix wins and World Drivers' Championships by team. He also took 57 pole positions and 122 podiums. Sources: Wikipedia and Formula One History.
Early Years: Karting to Formula BMW
Born in Heppenheim on 3 July 1987, Vettel rose through karting into single-seaters. His breakout came in 2004, when he won the Formula BMW ADAC title with an extraordinary 18 wins from 20 races. That earned him a role as BMW Sauber test driver, and at the 2007 United States Grand Prix, standing in for Robert Kubica, he finished eighth to become the youngest points scorer in F1 at the time.
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Breakthrough: Monza in the Rain
Moved to Toro Rosso, Vettel produced one of the great upsets at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix. In the wet at Monza he took pole and then the win, becoming the youngest race winner in F1 history at the time, aged 21. The German press started calling him "Baby Schumi", and Red Bull promoted him to the senior team for 2009, where he finished runner-up to Jenson Button.
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Peak: Four in a Row With Red Bull
In 2010 Vettel snatched the title at the final round to become the youngest world champion ever, aged 23. Three more followed in 2011, 2012 and 2013, the last of them a season of 13 wins that included a record run of nine victories in a row. At Ferrari from 2015 to 2020 he added 14 more wins, finishing runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in 2017 and 2018, with his final win coming in Singapore in 2019.
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Later Career and Legacy
Vettel joined Aston Martin in 2021 and took a second place in Azerbaijan in 2022 before announcing his retirement that July. He signed off at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his 300th race. He left as one of the most successful drivers in history and one of the sport's most respected voices.
Honours
Formula 1
- World Drivers' Champion: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- 53 Grand Prix wins, 57 pole positions, 122 podiums
- Youngest world champion (2010)
Other
- Formula BMW ADAC champion: 2004
- Race of Champions, Champion of Champions: 2015
- The Perfect World Foundation Award: 2026
Away From the Track
Vettel has become a leading voice on environmental issues, supporting biodiversity, forest conservation and pollinator protection through his V5 Projects. Since 2023 he has been co-owner of the Germany SailGP team alongside Thomas Riedel.
FAQs
How old is Sebastian Vettel?
Sebastian Vettel was born on 3 July 1987, so he is 39 years old as of October 2026.
Where was Sebastian Vettel born?
He was born in Heppenheim, in the German state of Hesse.
Which teams did Sebastian Vettel drive for?
BMW Sauber (2007), Toro Rosso (2007–2008), Red Bull (2009–2014), Ferrari (2015–2020) and Aston Martin (2021–2022).
How many races did Sebastian Vettel win?
Vettel won 53 Grands Prix: one with Toro Rosso, 38 with Red Bull and 14 with Ferrari, along with four world titles.
Was Sebastian Vettel the youngest F1 world champion?
Yes. He won the 2010 title aged 23 years and 135 days, making him the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.
What was Sebastian Vettel's first win?
The 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, won from pole in wet conditions for Toro Rosso. He was 21.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Lewis Hamilton's record-breaking story and Max Verstappen's four titles.
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