Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after finishing third in the Japanese Grand Prix to clinch the Formula One drivers championship. Photo / AP
Formula One fans descended on Sebastian Vettel's home town Sunday to celebrate the 24-year-old German becoming the sport's youngest ever two-time champion.
Despite the race starting at 7 a.m. local time, Heppenheim became "Vettelheim'' for the day as thousands gathered in front of giant screens to watch Vettel finish third at the Japanese Grand Prix, giving him 15 points when one was enough to defend his title with four races to spare.
Celebrations were marked by champagne showers, a procession of honking cars, fireworks and 100 liters of free beer, as the town's 25,000 inhabitants were swelled with flag-waving revelers from around Germany.
"Even if it's Sebastian's second title, it's another fantastic atmosphere,'' Axel Moeller, chairman of Vettel's local fan club, told the dapd news agency.
Vettel will likely join his fans for another party once the season is over or even before. More than 100,000 revelers turned out to welcome Heppenheim's most famous son after he won the title for the first time last year.
"We're very hopeful that he'll come here in the next weeks,'' Moeller said.
Despite focusing on the eurozone's debt crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel added her congratulations from Berlin.
"I'm happy and I congratulate Sebastian Vettel on his win,'' Merkel said.
Germany football coach Joachim Loew also paid tribute.
"Vettel has accomplished a magnificent achievement. He dominated the Formula One season and is a deserved world champion again. Already at his young age, he belongs among the top German athletes to have written sporting history,'' Loew said.
"It's impressive how he repeatedly masters the latest challenges with such competence and natural ability.''
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