Heppenheim, Germany: Formula One fans descended on Sebastian Vettel's home town on 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.
"We've had a long year, a fantastic year," Vettel said. "Today's race was difficult. We weren't as fast as we wanted to be on the soft tyres and it was difficult as we lost two positions, but it was a strong result today to win the championships and I want to thank the team."
Vettel joins some of the greats of the sport in having won consecutive championships: Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jack Brabham, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and Alonso.
The German's voice cracked as he spoke over the radio to team boss Christian Horner on his way back to the pits after the race, but when he got there he was all smiles, running to the outside of the pit wall where he was mobbed by his team in jubilant celebrations.
Back in his home town, 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."
Vettel, who won last year's championship in the last race of the year, compared that victory with wrapping up the title with four races remaining this season.
"The funny thing this year is that next week there is the next race so it's a bit difficult to understand," Vettel said. "Last year after the checkered flag it was all over, there was a long period of time when you weren't in the car again so it's a bit different this year."
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