Sebastian Vettel is proving to be a worthy successor to fellow German driver Michael Schumacher (right) as the biggest star in Formula One.
German greats —
Sebastian Vettel is proving to be a worthy successor to fellow German driver Michael Schumacher (right) as the biggest star in Formula One.
PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images/file
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher made his Formula One debut in 1991. Shortly after making his bow, the German posed for this photograph at the go-kart circuit in his hometown of Kerpen where he began his racing career.
Kings of Kerpen —
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher made his Formula One debut in 1991. Shortly after making his bow, the German posed for this photograph at the go-kart circuit in his hometown of Kerpen where he began his racing career.
Bongarts/Getty Images
German karting coach Gerhard Noack helped shape the careers of Schumacher and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel at the Kerpen track. CNN presenter Amanda Davies went to meet Noack for a rare television interview.
Motoring mentor —
German karting coach Gerhard Noack helped shape the careers of Schumacher and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel at the Kerpen track. CNN presenter Amanda Davies went to meet Noack for a rare television interview.
CNN / Amanda Davies
When Noack spotted Vettel's talents, he hoped to make him the next German prodigy. Here Vettel is an 18-year-old about to drive an F1 car for the first time in a 2005 private test for BMW Sauber.
The Vettel era begins —
When Noack spotted Vettel's talents, he hoped to make him the next German prodigy. Here Vettel is an 18-year-old about to drive an F1 car for the first time in a 2005 private test for BMW Sauber.
JOSE LUIS ROCA/AFP/Getty Images
A young Vettel (shown here in 2008) says he looked up to Schumacher in his early F1 career -- but soon he would edge closer to his hero's achievements.
Zero to hero —
A young Vettel (shown here in 2008) says he looked up to Schumacher in his early F1 career -- but soon he would edge closer to his hero's achievements.
Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images
Schumacher won five of his seven world titles in the scarlet colors of the Ferrari team. Noack expects Vettel to one day leave Red Bull as he seeks to add to his titles -- will he join Ferrari?
The red menace —
Schumacher won five of his seven world titles in the scarlet colors of the Ferrari team. Noack expects Vettel to one day leave Red Bull as he seeks to add to his titles -- will he join Ferrari?
OLIVER MULTHAUP/AFP/Getty Images
There were solo celebrations for Vettel at the 2013 Indian Grand Prix as another victory clinched his fourth straight world title with the supreme Red Bull team. The 26-year-old is tipped to one day surpass Schumacher as the sport's most decorated driver.
Fab four —
There were solo celebrations for Vettel at the 2013 Indian Grand Prix as another victory clinched his fourth straight world title with the supreme Red Bull team. The 26-year-old is tipped to one day surpass Schumacher as the sport's most decorated driver.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images