Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel is delighted with the defense of his Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship with four more races to go.

At 24 years of age, the German became the youngest back-to-back champion in the Formula One after sealing this season’s Formula One championship race at Suzuka.

Vettel was evidently thankful to the Red Bull team, crediting them with the win.

He said: “I want to thank all the guys and girls in the factory in Milton Keynes, as it’s not just us here pushing very hard, it’s them as well – from the post office to the design office to the engineering office here at the track, their effort is just incredible.”

Vettel took the chance to reflect on the championship race this year and felt that taking things one step at a time was key to the amazing victory.

He added: “It’s phenomenal what’s happened – we set ourselves the target to win the Championship this year and so, to win it by Japan with four more races to go, is difficult to put into words – it’s as confusing as the first one [Vettel's win last year].”

“A lot of people have been quite confident about the title, but one of the important things was that we didn’t allow ourselves to drift away with the thought too much.

“Instead we concentrated on every single step and everything we have done this year and everything we have achieved – then wow.”

“I never imagined I would win one Championship and so to win this second one is amazing. I have a lot of good memories from Formula One, from watching it when I was young, to now and I feel fortunate and blessed to experience today.

“For drivers, it doesn’t get much better than this, a sunny day and all the fans excited to see what you do – I think that’s what life is about. And so, to wrap up the Championship here is difficult to put into words – it’s more than fantastic.”

Fellow Red Bull driver Mark Webber, who finished fourth behind Vettel, paid tribute to Vettel’s phenomenal achievement while expressing his relief in finishing despite the setbacks in the race.

Webber said after the race: “Congratulations to Sebastian – to become a double World Championship is a very good job.

“All the overtaking during the race was in the pit stops today, with not much on track. We passed a Ferrari and a McLaren, but it was quite even between all of us.

“I had some contact with Michael Schumacher, which did some damage to my front wing at a crucial part of the race as I was trying to come back through the pack. We made contact, but he got away with it.

“The safety car didn’t really come at the right time for me – as I was hoping to have a look at Fernando around the stops, but when the field bunches up you have to go through the Michael situation again and it’s hard to undercut people.

“In the end it was a reasonable result; it was a great race for Jenson, it’s his second home race in many ways, and congratulations to Seb for the title.”