Sebastian Vettel at 30: Landmark moments in his Formula 1 career

By Jonathan Green

As Sebastian Vettel turns 30, Sky Sports F1 highlights 30 landmark moments from the four-time world champion's Formula 1 career.

2006 Turkish GP: Makes testing debut for BMW Sauber, topping the second Friday practice session and becoming the youngest driver to take part in an F1 weekend aged 19 years and 53 days (since surpassed by Max Verstappen).

June 2007 US GP: Makes his F1 debut for BMW Sauber as a stand-in for Robert Kubica, who had crashed heavily at the Canadian GP the previous weekend.

June 2007 US GP: Vettel qualifies seventh and finishes eighth on debut, becoming F1's youngest points-scorer at the time.

31 July 2007: BMW Sauber releases Vettel to sign for Toro Rosso for the remainder of the 2007 season and 2008.

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2007 Japanese GP: Crashes into the back of Mark Webber's Red Bull behind the Safety Car. Vettel is handed a 10-place grid penalty for China although it is later reduced to a reprimand.

16 July 2008: It is announced Vettel will replace the retiring David Coulthard at Red Bull for 2009 season.

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2008 Italian GP: Claims his first pole position and race win with Toro Rosso. At the time, Vettel was F1's youngest-ever race winner aged 21 years 74 days, beating Fernando Alonso's record by 317 days. It remains Toro Rosso's only victory.

December 2008: Is named Rookie of the Year at Autosport Awards

2009 Chinese GP: Secures Red Bull their first pole position before winning his first race for the team on the Sunday, beating team-mate Mark Webber.

2009 British GP: Vettel claims his only victory at Silverstone so far.

2009 Japanese GP: Wins after leading every lap from pole to keep the title race alive. Finishing fourth in Brazil would earn Jenson Button the Drivers' Championship but Vettel then wins in Abu Dhabi to secure second.

2010 Turkish GP: Collides with team-mate Mark Webber, forcing him out of the race.

2010 Brazilian GP: Wins race with team-mate Webber second to secure Red Bull their first Constructors' Championship.

2010 Abu Dhabi GP: Becomes youngest world champion in F1 history after winning season finale. Vettel enters the weekend in third place in the standings, 15 points behind Alonso and seven off Webber. He is only the third driver, after John Surtees and James Hunt, to win the championship having not previously topped the standings that season.

Start of 2011 season: Vettel wins six of the first eight races, and finishes second in the other two, becoming the first driver in F1 history to achieve the feat.

2011 Japanese GP: Wins his second world championship.

2011 Korean GP: Becomes the second driver after Michael Schumacher to win 10 races in a season.

2011 Indian GP: Vettel records the first 'Grand Slam' of his career - taking pole, the win, leading every lap and fastest lap.

2011 Brazilian GP: Breaks Nigel Mansell's record with 15th pole of season and sets record points total of 392.

2012 Brazilian GP: Recovers from an opening lap spin to finish sixth and become youngest three-time world champion, breaking Ayrton Senna's record.

2013 Malaysia GP: Multi-21-gate. Vettel defies team orders by overtaking Webber to claim victory.

Second half of 2013 season: Vettel wins the final nine races of the season to win his fourth world championship and break his own record points total with 397.

At the 2014 Japanese GP, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner confirms Sebastian Vettel will be leaving the team at the end of the season.

4 October 2014: Red Bull announce Vettel, then the reigning world champion, will leave the team at the end of season.

20 November 2014: Ferrari confirm signing of Vettel as Alonso's replacement.

Weekend of Nov 29 2014: Drives Ferrari car for the first time around team's Fiorano track.

2015 Malaysia GP: Wins his first race for Ferrari on his second appearance. The victory is also his first win since Brazil 2013, the 40th of career and Ferrari's first since Spain 2013.

2015 Singapore GP: Claims his first pole for Ferrari before victory 24 hours later takes him past Senna into third in the all-time standings.

2016 Mexican GP: Launches expletive-laden tirade at Race Director Charlie Whiting. Escapes punishment from the FIA after immediately apologising but is warned about his future conduct.

Sebastian Vettel wins the Monaco GP for the second time as Ferrari finally break their 16-year Monaco hoodoo.

Start of 2017 season: Wins three of the opening six races, finishing second in the other three, to lead world championship for first time since 2013.

Whilst waiting for the re-start under the safety car, Sebastian Vettel hits the back of Lewis Hamilton, then remonstrates by bumping into the Mercedes

2017 Azerbaijan GP: Twice collides with Lewis Hamilton behind the Safety Car. Vettel is handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty and three points on race licence but the FIA are further examining the incident to see if further action is required.

Don't miss the Austrian GP exclusively live on Sky Sports F1 on July 9 - lights out for the race is at 1pm. Check out all the ways to watch F1 on Sky Sports for subscribers and non-subscribers - including a NOW TV day pass for £6.99!

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