How Sebastian Vettel won the F1 title - in pictures

The 2011 season began in Melbourne in March and, predictably, it was the 2010 champion Sebastian Vettel who asserted his authority by claiming pole position for the race at the Albert Park Circuit ... Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

... Fellow title rivals Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso were left trailing as Vettel surged to victory Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

The German, who was followed across the line by Hamilton and Vitaly Petrov, made the most of his winning start Photograph: Peter J Fox/Getty Images

Vettel claimed his second pole and his second race win of the season in Malaysia. Button finished second and Nick Heidfeld third as Hamilton and Alonso's collision cost them both a shot at the podium Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

The two McLarens overwhelmed Vettel at the start of the Chinese Grand Prix Photograph: LIU JIN/AFP

The race was notable for a bizarre error by Button, who drove into the wrong garage as he and Vettel came in for simultaneous stops Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

Vettel rejoined the track ahead of his rival, but ultimately could not hold off the threat of the other McLaren, driven by Hamilton. Hamilton seized the lead with four laps remaining and earned his first victory of the season Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

But Vettel and Red Bull were back to their best in Turkey as they claimed their fourth successive pole position and led from the lights to the chequered flag in the race. Webber came second and Alonso third - for Ferrari's first podium of the season Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Alonso jumped from fourth to first going into the first corner at the Circuit de Catalunya in May but Vettel ultimately won the Spanish GP having reclaimed the lead through the pit stops Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP

Monaco was a fraught race weekend, particularly for Sergio Perez and Vitaly Petrov who were both seriously injured. Vettel once again won from pole position ahead of Alonso Photograph: Valery Hache/AFP

And celebrated in customary fashion with his team-mates Photograph: Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images

Hamilton and Button collided in Montreal at the Canadian Grand Prix Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

The race was suspended for two hours during torrential rain, and when Vettel ran wide on the final lap Button nipped past to steal the race win Photograph: Paul Chiasson/AFP/Getty Images

Force India's Adrian Sutil was in jovial mood ahead of the European GP in Valencia. As was Vettel after his sixth win of the season Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Alonso took advantage of Red Bull's negligence in the pits to take control of the British Grand Prix Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

He duly earned his first race win of the season Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Hamilton finished a disappointing fourth after being forced to conserve fuel, while Button retired after a flawed final pit stop Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Alonso might have won the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring as he, Hamilton and Webber tussled for the lead Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

It was Hamilton who eventually came out on top as Vettel finish fourth at his home GP Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Tyre selection proved critical at the Hungaroring as Button and Hamilton gainedtrack position in the Hungarian GP from Vettel. Button eventually took the chequered flag ahead of the German Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

Red Bull enjoyed a one-two in Belgium. Needless to say it was Vettel who was number one Photograph: Vladimir Rys/Getty Images

After a spectacular multi-car crash in Monza, Italy, Vettel topped the podium once more Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Vettel enjoyed another pole to flag victory in Singapore despite Button's late charge. Had the Brit not finished second, Vettel would have been crowned world champion that night ... Photograph: Timothy Sim/Reuters

... Instead Vettel went to Japan knowing that a single point would clinch the title. He started from pole, but was leapfrogged by Button at the second round of pit-stops in Suzuka ... Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

But Vettel finished third to become the youngest double world champion in Formula One history aged just 24 Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images