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Sebastian Vettel (born August 3 1987 in Heppenheim) is a German race car driver. He is will be the third driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team from the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix onwards. By taking part in Friday practice for the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, Vettel became the youngest ever Formula One driver to drive at a Grand Prix, at 19 years and 22 days. (Fernando Alonso remains the youngest driver to compete in a race; Nico Rosberg the youngest to drive an F1 car in private testing).

Career

Vettel started racing karts in 1995, winning various titles. In 2003, he upgraded to open-wheel cars, and won the 2004 German Formula BMW Championship with 18 victories from 20 races.

In 2005 he drove for ASL Mucke Motorsport in the Formula 3 Euroseries. He was placed fifth in the final standings with 64 points, winning the year's top rookie honours. He did not win any races, but this was largely due to the championship's domination by Lewis Hamilton. Despite, this, he tested the Williams FW27 Formula One car on September 27 as a reward for this Formula BMW success. He has also since tested for the BMW Sauber team.

Vettel is currently second in the 2006 Euroseries standings after ten rounds, behind series leader Paul di Resta. He also made his début in the World Series by Renault at Misano, winning after Pastor Maldonado was disqualified. However, at the next round at Spa-Francorchamps, his finger was almost sliced off by flying débris in an accident, and he was expected to be out of racing for several weeks. However, he managed to compete in the Ulltimate Masters of F3 at Zandvoort the following weekend, finishing in sixth place. He also set third fastest lap time, and it suprised his ASM team boss Frédéric Vasseur. Vasseur said: "I was impressed for sure, because at the beginning of the week I was sure he wouldn't race! But he showed good pace from the first practice session. I can't imagine he's 100 per cent but at least we know we can be competitive in the next F3 Euroseries round at the Nürburgring next weekend - that's important."

Vettel is BMW Sauber's third driver for the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, as former incumbent Robert Kubica was called up to replace the departed Jacques Villeneuve for the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix. The team applied for a Super Licence for Vettel in the week before the race, but described the rumours as "speculation". However, the story was confirmed on August 23.

Vettel impressed on his testing début by setting fastest time in second Friday Free Practice during the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

References

1. http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/050921/13/dryc.html
2. http://www.crash.net/feature_view~t~WS--Misano-2006---Maldonado-DQ-gives-Vettel-win-~cid~7~id~9702.htm
3. http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~WS--Injury-to-sideline-Vettel-for-weeks-~cid~7~id~134663.htm
4. Autosport magazine, 10th August 2006, page 27
5. http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/060822100357.shtml
6. http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/060823150819.shtml
7. http://www.formula1.com/race/result/764/10.html

External Links

• Sebastian Vettel website (German)

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