Red Bull's Vettel wins 2010 Drivers Championship

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel has clinched the Formula One title after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to become the youngest ever champion

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AFP
AFP

Abu Dhabi:  Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel has clinched the Formula One title after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to become the youngest ever champion.

Vettel started the race from pole position but 15 points behind two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. However, the Spaniard lost the title by finishing a disappointing seventh and trailed Vettel by four points in the final standings.

Alonso started third but paid the price for pitting his Ferrari too early and getting stuck behind Nico Rosberg and Vitaly Petrov for nearly 40 laps.

Red Bull's Mark Webber of Australia came in behind Alonso in seventh spot and finished third overall.

The 23-year-old Vettel is six months younger than Lewis Hamilton was in 2008.

Schumacher escapes unhurt

Michael Schumacher has escaped without injuries from a scary crash at the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after the Force India car of Vitantonio Liuzzi went over the top of the German's Mercedes.

Liuzzi's car landed inches away from Schumacher's head, but the seven-time Formula One champion was able to walk away unscathed and waved to fans as he exited the track at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Liuzzi also appeared unhurt in the collision, which occurred after Schumacher was spun around by his teammate Nico Rosberg. As Schumacher was trying to maneouvre his car back around, Liuzzi crashed over the top of him, spreading debris across the track.

The crash ends a disappointing comeback season without a podium finish for the 41-year-old German.

Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany drives during the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.
Mercedes GP's German driver Michael Schumacher crashes with Force India's Italian driver Vitantonio Liuzzi at the Yas Marina circuit.
Schumacher walks away from his car after crashing with Force India's Vitantonio Liuzzi of Italy.
McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton drives at the Yas Marina circuit.
Mercedes Grand Prix driver Michael Schumacher of Germany walks off the track after crashing with Force India driver Vitantonio Liuzzi of Italy during the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack, in Abu Dhabi.
McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton drives at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix.
The Red Bull car powers its way down the track during thethird practice session.

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