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Sebastian Vettel celebrates - Source: Reuters -
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Sebastian Vettel aims to end Britain's run of success and become Formula One's youngest champion next year.
Two days after concluding a superb season with his fourth win of the year in Abu Dhabi, the 22-year-old German was still oozing the sort of confidence that took him to the overall runner-up spot behind champion Jenson Button.
"There is only one step we can make for the team ranking, for the constructors, as well as for the drivers' championship, for myself. So there is no question about the target," the Red Bull driver told Reuters at the Race of Champions on Wednesday.
"I think (we can do it). We have grown a lot already this year and it was the first time for us to be in a situation where we had a very competitive car.
"Of course in the end, second place is good but we would like to be one step better for next year."
Vettel will not be 23 until July next year whereas McLaren's Lewis Hamilton became the youngest champion in 2008 aged 23 and 301 days.
The German already owns most of the other records in the book for youthful achievement: youngest to score points, youngest on the podium, youngest to take a pole position and youngest race winner.
Red Bull started the year without a Formula One race win to their name and ended it with three successive victories to finish second behind Brawn in the constructors' championship.
"The team is doing fantastically well," said Vettel. "We have a great atmosphere, everybody for sure needs the break to come back down and relax a little bit with friends and family.
"But I know at the same time everyone is extremely motivated to come back as soon as possible to be with the new car and make the next season better than this season."
Although Vettel and his Australian team mate Mark Webber had 16 podium finishes between them over the season, there was still plenty of room for improvement.
"Obviously the fact that five times this year we didn't see the chequered flag didn't help," said Vettel, who ended the season 11 points behind Button.
"But it's not really a time to regret. It's more to learn a lesson and look forward to next year."
The last German Formula One world champion was Michael Schumacher and Vettel teamed up with the 40-year-old to win the Race of Champions "Nations Cup" for a third successive year on a chilly night at the Bird's Nest in Beijing on Wednesday.
The fact that it was Button and his British team mate, three-times world touring car champion Andy Priaulx, that they beat in the final would have been pleasing.
But Vettel still had his eyes firmly fixed on what work he needs to do to win the main prize.
"This is fun for all of us," he said. "I think we all enjoy it. And after that I don't know (what I'm going to do). Probably some time off. And quite quickly then get back to training."
