Der Kinderfahrer
orn on July 3, 1987, in Heppenheim, Germany to carpenter father and enthusiastic karter, Norbet and his mother Heike, the newborn Vettel did take long to find his passion for racing. At the tender age of three years old, Sebastian was already racing a miniature kart around his home. Norbert and the rest of the family quickly realized that the young Seb had a knack for speed and did all he could to further his young son’s passion. A mere four years later the young Vettel made his karting debut, instantly beginning to win races and championships. One of his early trophies was presented by his idol Michael Schumacher, who befriended the awestruck boy, noting their similar backgrounds and encouraging him to follow his passion and reach for the top. But that would take more money than the Vettels could afford. The solution came in the form of sponsorship from Red Bull, whose talent spotters decided Sebastian was worthy of inclusion in the energy drink maker’s young driver training program. Thanks to the sponsorship, Seb excelled in every aspect of racing, quickly establishing himself as a massive talent for the future. At 17, a
