F1: Vettel Scores Win, Captures Unlikely Title In Abu Dhabi

Formula 1

F1: Vettel Scores Win, Captures Unlikely Title In Abu Dhabi

Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and also claimed the World Championship...

Jared Turner | Posted November 14, 2010 Abu Dhabi (ARE)

Sebastian Vettel celebrates his championship with fans in Abu Dhabi. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

In a season never bereft of unexpected subplots and high drama, Sebastian Vettel pulled off the biggest stunner of all by emerging as unlikely World Champion in Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Needing to win the race to have any shot at Formula One's most coveted prize, Vettel did just that - and leapfrogged Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber in the standings to take the title by a scant four points.

Vettel arrived at Yas Marina Circuit 15 points behind Alonso and seven behind Webber but gained the upper hand on his rivals Sunday when both Alonso and Webber fell behind on pit stops and never fully recovered.

Webber finished third in the standings, 14 points behind Vettel, followed by Lewis Hamilton another two points back in fourth.

Vettel never led the standings in 2010 prior to Sunday, when he delivered a near-flawless performance from pole.

"I'm a bit speechless to be honest," the German said. "I don't know what you're supposed to say at this moment. It has been an incredible season. We have always kept believing in us and our team and our car. Today was a special day all around."

Following Vettel to the finish line was the McLaren duo of Hamilton and Jenson Button. Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica completed the top five, followed by Vitaly Petrov, Alonso, Webber, Jaime Alguersuari and Felipe Massa.

Vettel, 23, became the youngest World Champion and first champion from the Milton-Keynes-based Red Bull Racing outfit.

After holding off a brief challenge from second-place qualifier Hamilton at the start, Vettel built a hefty lead before surrendering the top spot with his lone pit stop on lap 24 of 55.

Vettel returned to the track trailing the McLaren of Button, who hadn't yet pitted. When Button finally did stop on lap 40, Vettel regained the lead and cruised to the victory by 10.1 seconds over runner-up Hamilton.

The triumph capped an incredible 2010 campaign for young Vettel, who finished with five wins, 10 podium finishes and 10 poles in 19 starts.

Sebastian Vettel's bank account is growing. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Vettel used an incredibly strong finish to the season, highlighted by three wins in the last four races, to chase down his championship foes and seize the championship lead just when it counted.

"This morning I got up and tried not to think about anything," Vettel said. "We have only led this championship once and when it matters, so I'm speechless, as I said. The start was crucial, it was very tight with Lewis."

Vettel said he didn't even know he'd won the championship - and where Alonso was running - until he crossed the finish line and was told over the radio by a member of his team.

"To be honest, I didn't know anything until I crossed the checkered flag," Vettel said.

Red Bull also won its first constructors' championship this year, wrapping up that title last weekend in Brazil.

McLaren nailed down second-place at Abu Dhabi, followed by Ferrari in third.