German ace hailed after fourth straight victory

Fans celebrate German Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel’s victory in the India Formula One Grand Prix, in the driver’s hometown Heppenheim, central Germany, yesterday. Thousands of people began to party in Formula One great Sebastian Vettel’s hometown of Heppenheim after the German was crowned world chamnpion for a fourth successive year following his victory in yesterday’s Indian Grand Prix.

DPA/Berlin

Thousands of fans yesterday celebrated Sebastian Vettel’s fourth Formula One world title in his home town of Heppenheim as sports, politics and the media also saluted the young German.

Some 3,500 fans from across the country gathered at a public viewing event in Heppenheim, some 40 kilometres outside Frankfurt, to watch Vettel clinch the quadruple championship with victory at the Indian Grand Prix. “The atmosphere was fantastic, we were all excited. Vettel raced with superior ease as always,” the head of Vettel’s fan club, Alex Moeller, said as champagne corks popped after the latest triumph.

Vettel emulated Michael Schumacher (seven titles overall) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five) with four titles in a row, and Alain Prost also has four.

“Compliments and congratulation to Sebastian - a great performance by him and the team. He truly deserves the fourth title,” Schumacher said via Sky TV.

Prost said in a statement from Red Bull’s engine suppliers Renault: “I’m delighted to see Sebastian win the title today. He is a great driver and he has had some outstanding wins this year, some of the best of his career so far. “He is a great champion and I don’t think this title will be his last.”

The last title rival Fernando Alonso and his Ferrari were left to salute Vettel like the other drivers and teams.

“I congratulate Sebastian Vettel, they have been very strong and dominant, especially in the second half of the season and Red Bull deserve to be champions,” Alonso said.

Yesterday’s second-placed finisher Nico Rosberg said: “Sebastian Vettel’s achievement is unbelievable, four is a lot but it is well deserved. He is doing a great job, the Red Bull team is doing a great job.”

Three-times world champion Niki Lauda named Vettel “a giant” but there was also much praise from outside the F1 community.

“Four in a row. You are absolutely amazing,” German NBA star Dirk Nowitzki told Vettel via Sky. Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki tweeted: “Congratulations to Sebastian Vettel!!! World champion again.”

Arsenal’s German winger Lukas Podolski also took to Twitter, saying: “World Champion again! Congrats to Sebastian Vettel - what a sportsman.”

The German Olympic sports federation tweeted Vettel was “a master of his craft” and the prime minister of Hesse, the federal state Heppenheim is located in, also chimed in.

“The whole of Hesse looks with pride and joy at the sensational performance of Sebastian Vettel who has clearly stepped into the footsteps of Michael Schumacher with his phenomenal win streak,” Prime Minister Volker Bouffier said in a statement.

The Bild tabloid screamed “King Vettel IV” on its website, and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung mentioned Vettel and successful chief designer Adrian Newey together: “They are dominating the field more than ever - and there is no end in sight.”