Vettel takes lead role at the perfect moment to snatch title from Alonso

At the age of 23 years and 135 days Vettel is the sport's youngest world champion, an accomplishment he achieved in style with victory in the season-ending finale in Abu Dhabi.

That in itself is remarkable, surpassing the record previously held by Lewis Hamilton when the Briton set the benchmark in 2008, by 166 days.

Perhaps somewhat more astonishing is that up until yesterday, the point at when it mattered the most, Vettel had not led the championship at any point all season.

After playing the role of hunter throughout, it is a case of 'to the victor the spoils', deserving, too, despite a bitter internal feud he has endured at times with Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber this year.

Vettel's triumph concludes a fairytale season for the team who last week were crowned constructors' champions, with this the icing on the cake.

"I'm a bit speechless," were Vettel's first words when asked for his thoughts as to his triumph.

Given Vettel often has a lot to say for himself, there followed a three-minute soliloquy, with the broad smile he is renowned for never far away from his lips.

"I don't know what you are supposed to say at this moment. It has been an incredibly tough year for myself, for all of us, physically and especially mentally.

"But we have always kept believing in ourselves, our team, the car, and I kept believing in myself. Today was a special day all around.

"This morning I got up and tried not to think about anything, tried to avoid too much contact with people, tried to do my own thing.

"I knew the only thing I could do was try to win this race and do my best, and now we have only led this championship once, and when it mattered.

"It's kind of sunk in, but then it has still not. I'm extremely proud."

There followed a lengthy list of thank yous to many people, almost akin to an Oscars speech, but there could be no doubting Vettel's joy as he now stands alongside his heroes in F1's roll of honour.

"We have one guy in the team who knows all the world champions of every year since 1950," added Vettel.

"Just ask him the year and he gives you the world champion, so to be on that list now with drivers like (Ayrton) Senna and Michael (Schumacher), those two guys, I mean ... I don't know."

As for becoming the youngest champion, to add to the records he already possesses – the youngest to score points; lead a race; qualify on pole; win a grand prix – again Vettel was left dumbfounded.

"When it comes to records, after Lewis won his title, I thought to myself it will be questionable if there will ever be anyone younger than him," said Vettel.

"To be fair, he only missed it by a one point the year before (in 2007), but then you can argue records are there to be broken in a way."

Come the conclusion of the 55-lap race, one that began dramatically with Schumacher almost losing his head in an accident with Force India's Vitantonio Liuzzi, Vettel had won the title by four points after starting it 15 adrift.

Pre-race favourite Fernando Alonso suffered from a botched strategy by Ferrari that saw him finish seventh when he needed fourth to win his third championship with Vettel taking the chequered flag.

As Vettel remarked: "Who would have thought that Ferrari starting from third with good pace would finish seventh?

"That's how it goes sometimes. But as I said, I'm just happy to put my name down on the list."

Vettel was left anxiously waiting for confirmation, however, after taking the race win, with Alonso over 30 seconds down the road at the Yas Marina circuit.

"After crossing the line my engineer came on the radio silently and said 'It is looking good, but we have to wait until the other cars finish,'" said Vettel.

"I was thinking 'What does he mean?' I hadn't seen the screens, but then he again came on and screamed at me that I had won the world championship.

"It is just amazing. I guess it will sink in when I finally go to sleep, but I think we will have daylight before that happens."

The last two world champions in Hamilton and Jenson Button joined Vettel on the podium, with Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber's hopes effectively wrecked by his qualifying display on Saturday.

From fifth on the grid the Australian slipped to eighth come the flag, finishing third in the standings, 14 points off Germany's newest motorsport hero.

For Alonso – already twice world champion – it was a case of what might have been. After dropping to fourth at the start after being passed by Jenson Button, Ferrari bizarrely opted to cover Webber's early stop, even though the Australian was behind in fifth place.

The move relegated Alonso into the midfield pack from where he was frustrated by Renault's Vitaly Petrov as the Spaniard spent 40 laps behind the Russian.

Come the conclusion, with Alonso eventually finishing seventh, the double world champion disgraced himself by gesticulating at Petrov as he pulled alongside the Renault on the slow-down lap.

It was understandable anger from Alonso at missing out as he said: "It's a shame to get to the end of the season and then miss out on the title at the final moment.

"Everything went wrong today, from the start to the strategy. With hindsight, it would have been better not to pit so soon.

"But it's easy to say that when you have all the facts. However, it was definitely not an easy decision.

"Now there is some sadness, but I'm sure in a few hours and with a clear head, we'll begin to appreciate better what we have achieved.

"We have to continue like that, staying united and determined.

"For now there is nothing we can change, someone did a better job than us and they have more points at the end of the championship, so congratulations to them."

Team principal Stefano Domenicali, too, admitted to "sadness", but more importantly to "a mistake" that sees them go empty handed for the second successive season.

"To come so close to our goal and to see it slip away for just a few points really hurts," he said Domenicali.

"We made a wrong decision in terms of strategy, but there is no point in discussing the whys and wherefores of how we arrived at this choice.

"We are Ferrari which means we are condemned to having to win, so a second place is a defeat, but this is also part of sport and we have to accept it."

As for Red Bull boss Christian Horner, there was only sheer delight after a memorable campaign saw his team take both titles on offer, although he admitted this weekend belonged to his German driver.

"The first time Sebastian has led the championship is at the last race of the year, but arguably it's the only time you need to lead it," said Horner.

"He's stuck with it this year, he's had some tough times and he's had his issues with reliability here and there, but he's never lost his focus. He's the youngest ever world champion and a very deserving world champion.

"It's down to what he's done on the circuit, and the whole team is hugely proud of what he's achieved today.

"It's been a very, very big week, but the day belongs to Sebastian."

Webber, who has had his fall-outs with Vettel this year, was sporting in defeat.

"I tried my absolute hardest and did everything I could, but in the end it wasn't enough," he said.

"You've got to take your hat off to Sebastian who has done a great job all year.

"To lead the championship at the last race, he's got the timing right and I fully congratulate him."