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22 FRESH from a recent four-day visit to Maranello, Vettel was centre stage during a farewell function at Red Bull's Milton Keynes factory to cel- ebrate his six years there. The German was handed a special leaving present bundle by team chiefs Christian Horner and Adrian Newey - which included an espresso cup, some tight red Speedo swimming trunks, and a half-scale model bull. Horner also said that the team would give him one of his championship- winning F1 cars - but not yet. "We don't want it turning up in Ma- ranello," smiled Horner. Before spending the afternoon sign- ing autographs and meeting team members, Vettel admitted that his emotions were running high as his Red Bull career came to an end. "The last six years have been incred- ible," he said. "What we've achieved, the work that's gone in: so much passion, so much dedication. It will always stay in my heart. "Big, big thank you to everyone. In the end we had the better car because we were the better team. "Thank you really doesn't really de- scribe enough what I feel." Junior career Vettel signed to Red Bull in 1998 and, five years later, he made his single-seater debut in German-based Formula BMW ADAC. Second in the championship was followed by a dominant 2004 campaign when he won 18 of 20 races. He moved into Formula Three in 2005 and placed fifth before finishing as runner-up to Paul di Resta in 2006. That campaign also yielded two wins in World Series by Renault before he almost severed a finger in a high-speed accident at Spa. Vettel made his Formula 1 practice debut for BMW in Turkey and topped the times, while in 2007 he was lead- ing the FR3.5 table when he was called up for his debut. 2007 (BMW/Toro Rosso, 14th in championship, 6 points) As BMW reserve driver, Vettel was drafted in to replace the injured Rob- ert Kubica for Indianapolis and he fin- ished eighth, earning points on his de- but. He moved to Toro Rosso in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix and starred in Japan before hitting senior team driver Mark Webber behind the Safety Car while running third. He re- deemed himself with a stunning drive from 17th to fourth in difficult condi- tions in China. 2008 (Toro Rosso, 8th in championship, 35 points) Vettel remained full-time with Toro Rosso in 2008 but the season started badly with four successive retirements and a lowly 17th place in Turkey. However, he finished a brilliant fifth in Monaco and continued to fight for the top 10, including a fine drive to sixth in Valencia, which the team described as a breakthrough. Then came Monza. Vettel took an unlikely pole position and followed it up in treacherous conditions to claim Toro Rosso's maiden win at home. Further top 10 finishes followed and he fin- ished eighth in the standings. 2009 (Red Bull, 2nd in championship, 84 points) Vettel was promoted to Red Bull just as the squad came of age under new technical regulations. He mas- tered the wet conditions in China to claim the team's first win but Jenson Button's otherwise dominant first few races left him playing catch-up in the title race. The RB5 was rapid on high-downforce circuits and Vet- tel stormed to wins in Britain and Japan, but elsewhere a few errors and technical problems scuppered progress. He rounded out the year with another win in Abu Dhabi. 2010 (Red Bull, World Champion, 256 points) Red Bull's RB6 was the class of the field for much of the year. Although he won in Malaysia, Vettel was fac- ing a threat from team-mate Mark Webber, and the duo famously col- lided in Turkey. While onlookers deemed that Vettel was at fault, the team jumped to Vettel's defence. A dominant Valencia win was a rare mid-season highlight as his collision with Button in Belgium led to criti- cism. From there, Vettel fought back and claimed three wins from the last five races, winning the title in a last- race showdown when rivals Webber and Fernando Alonso faltered. 2011 (Red Bull, World Champion, 392 points) New devices such as KERS, DRS and high-degrading Pirelli tyres spiced up the racing but Vettel mas- tered the new era by claiming 15 pole positions and often romping away from rivals at the start and never looking back. He took 11 victories – it could have been more – and only failed to claim a podium in two races. Such was his superiority that Vettel wrapped up the title with four races remaining. 2012 (Red Bull, World Champion, 281 points) Tweaked regulations meant that Vettel and Red Bull spent much of the campaign trying to get the RB8 to suit his driving style. He triumphed in just one of the opening 13 races as Alonso opened up a sizeable points advan- tage, but Vettel fought back with four successive wins to reclaim the points lead. Recovering from the pit lane to third in Abu Dhabi preserved his points lead while he fought back to sixth in Brazil after a first lap accident to secure a third straight title. 2013 (Red Bull, World Champion, 397 points) Vettel and Red Bull were once again the combination to beat in 2013. Early season tyre degrada- tion did not suit the RB9, but Vettel held a comfortable championship advantage prior to the summer break after four wins from nine races, while none of his rivals were able to mount a sustained chal- lenge. From there, tweaked tyres and greater understanding of them allowed Vettel to surge clear of the opposition and he rounded out the year with nine straight wins – a record – to bring his season total to 13. He clinched the title in In- dia, with three rounds left. 2014 (Red Bull, 5th in championship, 167 points) As soon as pre-season testing be- gan at Jerez, it became clear that Mercedes had stolen a march over fellow engine manufacturers Fer- rari and Renault for the sport's turbo V6 overhaul. While that was true, and hindered Red Bull's chances from the off, few expect- ed Vettel to be outclassed by new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who recorded all three of the outfit's victories. As his first winless (full- time) Formula 1 campaign devel- oped, Vettel began to explore oth- er opportunities, and duly sealed a dream switch to Ferrari. The end of an era, but the beginning of an- other. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2014 Sport FORMULA 1 https://www.facebook.com/ivancordobatrainingcampmalta http://www.icpupizanettimalta.com Francesco Toldo will also be attending the Training Camp!! Tickets are still available for the Training Camp, VIP Event and Gala Dinner. Gala Dinner to be held at Golden Sands with special guests IVAN CORDOBA and FRANCESCO TOLDO on 7 December 2014 at 8.30pm. For more information please contact: Paul Fenech - 9949 4762 Anthony Cauchi - 9947 5927 Malcolm Abdilla - 7961 7325 For Gozo VIP event Susan Galea on 9926 2692 Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the Tickets are still available for the In aid of Fundación Columbia 6-8 December, 2014 Luxol Sports Ground. In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia In aid of Fundación Columbia IVÁN CÓRDOBA Training Camp Malta Sebastian Vettel promised Red Bull car, but only after he leaves Ferrari Vettel bids final farewell to Red Bull Sebastian Vettel Christian Horner and Sebastian Vettel