'WE'D LIKE TO BE ONE STEP BETTER'

November 4, 2009
By Nick Mulvenney

Sebastian Vettel wants to end Britain's run of success and become Formula 1's youngest champion in 2010.

Two days after concluding a great season with his fourth win of the year in Abu Dhabi, the 22-year-old German was still oozing the sort of confidence that took him to the second in the Drivers' championship behind Jenson Button.

"There is no question about the target," the Red Bull driver said at the Race of Champions meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.

"I think we can do it. We've grown a lot this year and it was the first time for us to be in a situation where we had a very competitive car.

"Of course, in the end, second is good but we would like to be one step better in 2010."

Vettel will not be 23 until July that year whereas McLaren's Lewis Hamilton became the youngest champion in 2008 aged 23 and 301 days.

The German owns most of the other records in the book for youthful achievement: youngest to score points, youngest on the podium, youngest on pole and youngest race-winner.

Red Bull started the year without an F1 win but ended it with a hat trick of victories to finish second behind Brawn in the Constructors' championship.

"The team is doing fantastically well," Vettel said. "but I know everybody is extremely motivated to come back as soon as possible to be with the new car and make next season better than this." - Reuters