But he was also up against a formidable opponent in Brawn GP driver Jenson Button, who had taken five wins from the first six races. Having already claimed Red Bull’s maiden pole position and race win in Shanghai earlier in the season, Vettel was one of the frontrunners by the time Formula 1 arrived at Istanbul Park in 2009. Apprenticeship served it was time for Vettel to graduate to the senior Red Bull team. In the thirteen races after Turkey, Vettel record nine points finishes – including a sensational pole position and debut win at Monza. But the race would represent a turning point for the German, who’d started the 2008 season with four DNFs. Vettel’s fortunes didn’t improve much the following year, when he finished last in Turkey for Toro Rosso. Competing in only his third Formula 1 race, Vettel qualified his Toro Rosso near the back of the grid and finished a lap down on winner Felipe Massa at the 2007 Turkish Grand Prix.
Vettel’s subsequent record at Istanbul Park is a story of contrasting fortunes. It wasn’t long after that the Red-Bull backed driver was called up for a full-time driver at Toro Rosso, replacing Scott Speed. Called in to replace Robert Kubica, who was still recovering from his huge accident in Canada one week earlier, Vettel qualified well and joined an elite group of drivers who have scored points in their Formula 1 debut. Vettel was given another six further Friday practice outings with BMW Sauber before making an eye-catching race debut for the same team at Indianapolis less than 10 months later.
It wasn’t an auspicious start for the young German, who set a Formula 1 record for the shortest time elapsed before earning a penalty – Vettel was fined for speeding in the pit lane just 9 seconds into his Formula 1 career! Thankfully, things went better on the track for Vettel, who recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 2.
From his Formula 1 debut to a controversial clash with Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, the Turkish Grand Prix was the scene of many key moments in the rise of Sebastian Vettel.Īged 19 years and 53 days, a fresh-faced Sebastian Vettel became one of the youngest drivers to take part in a Formula 1 weekend when he drove for BMW Sauber in Friday’s free practice sessions at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix.
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