Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates winning the world championship with his team after finishing sixth in the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo Sunday. — Reuters SAO PAULO — Sebastian Vettel became the youngest triple champion in Formula One history Sunday when he finished sixth behind the victorious Jenson Button in a tumultuous Brazilian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old German, who was involved in an opening lap collision, made light of the damage to his Red Bull car as he fought through the field in a dramatic race run in treacherous rain-swept conditions at the Interlagos circuit. Vettel's only title rival, two-time champion Spaniard Fernnando Alonso, finished a fine second after a courageous drive for Ferrari, but it was not enough to overhaul a pre-race 13-point deficit as his German rival won the crown by just three points. The race was littered with accidents and incidents and ended behind a Safety Car with Vettel bringing his car home in the rain in tears, unable to respond to the screamed congratulations from Red Bull team chief Christian Horner. Vettel became only the third driver in Formula One history to win three successive titles, equaling the feats of the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and his own childhood hero Michael Schumacher, who finished seventh for Mercedes in his final race before retiring. Alonso's Ferrari teammate, local hero Brazilian Felipe Massa, drove brilliantly to finish third ahead of Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India. Hulkenberg played a prominent role in the race, not only leading for a spell but also crashing into Lewis Hamilton's McLaren to wreck the Briton's hopes of a triumphant conclusion to his career with the British team just when he looked sure of winning. Vettel was sixth, Schumacher seventh in his last race before retirement and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne eighth for Toro Rosso ahead of Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber and Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus. Vettel, whose Red Bull team took a third constructors' championship in succession last weekend in Texas, finished with 281 points and Alonso with 278. It was Briton Button's first win in Brazil, his third of the season and the 15th of his career. Schumacher fans hail hero Schumacher's fans made their presence felt at the Brazilian Grand Prix as the seven-time Formula One champion prepared to say farewell to the sport at the age of 43. “On 25 Nov. 2012, last day of the golden age of F1,” declared one banner in the grandstand overlooking the main Interlagos straight. “Michael, F1 is nothing without you” and “Michael, we love you,” said others. “We're not really in a position to offer a lot of fireworks in this last race although I wish to do,” the German said before the race, standing next to Vettel on a truck as they went around the circuit for the pre-race drivers' parade. “It's been a pleasure to come back,” added the sport's most successful driver, who won his titles and 91 races with Benetton and Ferrari before returning with Mercedes. “I enjoyed most of it. It wasn't as successful as we wanted it to be but still I learned a lot for life and I'm quite glad for the good emotions again. Now is a good time to go...” Schumacher retired for the first time in Brazil in 2006 and came back in 2010. With Mercedes he has just one podium finish to his credit, at the European Grand Prix in Valencia this season. The German has not scored a point in his last six races. — Agencies
