Vettel hears the sweet sounds of another F1 title

[Blue_Tires]

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Sebastian Vettel knows there's work coming up. But that doesn't mean the youngest racer to win two straight Formula One titles can't belt out a few numbers at a karaoke bar.

Vettel's next race is less than a week away, and his Red Bull team packed up and headed off for South Korea. That left Vettel with a day off Monday following a night out and doing what any 24-year-old on the top of his game might do — singing with his teammates at an Irish bar .

"We had a little bit of a celebration last night," the German driver said before greeting a mob of Japanese fans. "But not too much because this week we go to Korea."

With four races left, his third-place in the Japanese GP on Sunday sealed the drivers title in what has been an overwhelmingly dominant season. With nine races won so far, he is in contention to equal the season record of 13 wins set by countryman Michael Schumacher.

Vettel is also just two pole positions away from the season record on that front as well — now 14, set by Nigel Mansell in 1992.

"Obviously, it was a fantastic day for us," he said. "When we crossed the line it was certainly a big relief."

The Japanese GP title was won by McLaren driver Jenson Button. Vettel, however, showed his steely will to win, defending his early lead by essentially running Button off the road with a sharp turn of the wheel. He appeared to be gunning for the checkered flag again as the race went down to the wire, but settled for the safety of third place.

"I got a radio call that the priority was to finish the race," he said.

In any other race for Vettel this year, third would have been a huge letdown.

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