Legend Senna inspired Vettel

Sebastian Vettel celebrates after securing his third consecutive Formula One title. The Red Bull racer claimed a sixth place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix to win the championship by three points from Fernando Alonso.

Fernando Alonso was looking cool and relaxed before heading into battle at Interlagos. The Ferrari driver, who started the day 13 points adrift of championship leader and title rival Vettel, qualified in eighth before being upgraded to seventh following the 10-place grid penalty meted out to Williams' Pastor Maldonado.

Vettel began the day aiming to become the youngest ever triple world champion in Formula One. The German, 25, started fourth on the grid with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton on pole. A top four finish would be good enough for Vettel to win the title irrespective of where rival Alonso finished.

Hamilton started the day on pole position ahead of his McLaren teammate Jenson Button. Brazil holds fond memories for Hamilton, who won the drivers' title at Interlagos back in 2008.

Vettel suffered a nightmare start on the opening lap after being hit on the fourth turn and suffering damage to his car. His team radio swiftly brought news, telling the German: "There is visible damage. It is not front wing, we cannot fix it." The incident left Vettel at the back of the grid but by the 24th lap of 71, the safety car had been called to clear debris from the track with the Red Bull racer having clawed his way back to fifth place.

Alonso lost grip on the first turn of the circuit as tension soared during a pulsating race at Interlagos. The Ferrari man, who last won the title back in 2006, was hoping to collect his third championship trophy by sneaking past Vettel.

Hamilton had led at Interlagos before a collision with Force India's Nico Hulkenburg forced him out of the race and allowed teammate Jenson Button to pass and claim victory.

Button salutes the crowd at Interlagos following his victory. He said: "First of all I want to congratulate the whole team. This is the perfect way to end the season. We have had ups and downs and to end on a high bodes well for 2013."

Michael Schumacher congratulates fellow German Vettel on his title triumph. Seven-time world champion Schumacher finished seventh in his final race before retirement.

Vettel celebrates with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone following his title win in Brazil.

Vettel celebrates with his team and admirers after a pulsating race at Interlagos. There's sure to be a big party after another fantastic season for the German driver and the Red Bull team.

HIDE CAPTION

Super Seb

Shades of glory

Chasing history

Pole sitter

Damaged goods

Running wide

Hamilton's hopes dashed

Joy for Jenson

The new Schumacher?

Party time

Give me five!

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(CNN) -- Sebastian Vettel described his achievement of claiming a third successive Formula One crown in the country of racing legend Ayrton Senna as 'unreal'.

The Red Bull driver became the youngest ever triple world champion in the history of the sport after recovering from a disastrous start to finish sixth at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Brazilian favourite Senna, who won his home Grand Prix in 1990 and 1991, was also a three-time world champion before his tragic death following a crash at Imola in 1994.

Victorious Vettel makes history

Senna, who died at the age of just 34, won 41 races in 161 attempts and established himself as one of the most talented drivers to have ever graced the sport.

Vettel, 25, is just the third driver in history to win three successive titles, equaling the achievements of Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and Germany's Michael Schumacher.

Sebastian Vettel celebrates after securing his third consecutive Formula One title. The Red Bull racer claimed a sixth place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix to win the championship by three points from Fernando Alonso.

Fernando Alonso was looking cool and relaxed before heading into battle at Interlagos. The Ferrari driver, who started the day 13 points adrift of championship leader and title rival Vettel, qualified in eighth before being upgraded to seventh following the 10-place grid penalty meted out to Williams' Pastor Maldonado.

Vettel began the day aiming to become the youngest ever triple world champion in Formula One. The German, 25, started fourth on the grid with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton on pole. A top four finish would be good enough for Vettel to win the title irrespective of where rival Alonso finished.

Hamilton started the day on pole position ahead of his McLaren teammate Jenson Button. Brazil holds fond memories for Hamilton, who won the drivers' title at Interlagos back in 2008.

Vettel suffered a nightmare start on the opening lap after being hit on the fourth turn and suffering damage to his car. His team radio swiftly brought news, telling the German: "There is visible damage. It is not front wing, we cannot fix it." The incident left Vettel at the back of the grid but by the 24th lap of 71, the safety car had been called to clear debris from the track with the Red Bull racer having clawed his way back to fifth place.

Alonso lost grip on the first turn of the circuit as tension soared during a pulsating race at Interlagos. The Ferrari man, who last won the title back in 2006, was hoping to collect his third championship trophy by sneaking past Vettel.

Hamilton had led at Interlagos before a collision with Force India's Nico Hulkenburg forced him out of the race and allowed teammate Jenson Button to pass and claim victory.

Button salutes the crowd at Interlagos following his victory. He said: "First of all I want to congratulate the whole team. This is the perfect way to end the season. We have had ups and downs and to end on a high bodes well for 2013."

Michael Schumacher congratulates fellow German Vettel on his title triumph. Seven-time world champion Schumacher finished seventh in his final race before retirement.

Vettel celebrates with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone following his title win in Brazil.

Vettel celebrates with his team and admirers after a pulsating race at Interlagos. There's sure to be a big party after another fantastic season for the German driver and the Red Bull team.

Super Seb

Shades of glory

Chasing history

Pole sitter

Damaged goods

Running wide

Hamilton's hopes dashed

Joy for Jenson

The new Schumacher?

Party time

Give me five!

HIDE CAPTION

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

>

>>

2012 F1 season climax in Brazil

CNN Greatest F1 Driver: Day Five

CNN Greatest F1 Driver: Day Four

He now joins the likes of Senna, Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda, Jackie Stewart and Jack Brabham on three championship triumphs.

Unreal

"To do this, for all of us in the team it is unreal," he told reporters.

"Also to win a third title here, where one of the greatest Ayrton (Senna) came from.

"It is very difficult to imagine that I join him and other great names by winning three successive titles.

"My radio was not working, I was crying and you didn't hear that and I am very happy about that. I just can't find the right words to describe how I feel right now.

"Christian (Horner) came on the radio and told me the names of all the three-time champions and I cried."

Tears

For much of the race it appeared that Vettel would be shedding different kind of tears following a nightmare start to the race.

The German was involved in an opening lap collision with Williams' Bruno Senna, which damaged his car and left him at the back of the grid.

Fangio vs. Senna: Who is the greatest?

With his chief rival Fernando Alonso claiming second place, Vettel somehow managed to fight his way up to a sixth place finish to win the title by just three points.

He added: "I just kept trying to race. We always believed.

"I was so very happy to climb back after being hit like that at the start -- you imagine spinning backwards on the M25 (British motorway). It was not a very comfortable feeling.

"I really want to thank everyone in the team here and in the factory and all of us. Nobody feels more important than anybody else. It is unbelievable for me.

"I had to avoid everyone and I was lucky nobody hit me. Fortunately, the front wing was intact which was important. I was forced back and in the mixed conditions I was the slowest car out there on the straight.

"We just did our thing. That's the way we do it and it works in our team."