Sebastian Vettel
A four-time world champion who rewrote Formula One's record books with blistering speed and a relentless, methodical drive.
Born 1987 (age 39)·German racing driver·Birthday: July 3·Millennials
Biography
Sebastian Vettel arrived in Formula One as a prodigy and left as a philosophical elder, his career a study in intense, record-shattering dominance. With Red Bull Racing, he and designer Adrian Newey formed a partnership that defined an era. From 2010 to 2013, Vettel was untouchable, stringing together victories with a clinical precision that overwhelmed rivals. He became the sport's youngest world champion, a title he still holds, and his nine consecutive wins in 2013 stand as a towering benchmark. His later chapters at Ferrari and Aston Martin were more complex, marked by near-misses and a visible evolution in his personality. The fierce competitor matured into a thoughtful advocate for broader issues within the sport, from driver safety to environmentalism and social justice. Vettel's legacy is dual-faceted: the statistical giant of his youth, and the conscientious, deeply human figure he became.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sebastian was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sebastian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Sebastian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won four consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championships from 2010 to 2013 with Red Bull Racing.
- Holds the record for the youngest World Champion in F1 history, winning his first title at age 23.
- Set a record for most consecutive race wins in a single season (9) in 2013.
- Achieved 53 Grand Prix victories, placing him third on the all-time list at the time of his retirement.
Did You Know?
He is an avid fan of The Beatles and often used song titles for his race cars.
He keeps a piece of his first crashed F1 car on his desk as a reminder.
He is a trained pastry chef and enjoys baking in his spare time.
He purchased and restored Niki Lauda's historic 1975 Ferrari 312T.
“I think there’s a certain amount of anger in every driver. You need that to go fast.”
