It means that Vettel is only the third driver in the history of the sport to win three successive titles, equalling the achievements of Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher.

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Ecclestone tipped Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel to retain his drivers' championship and become only the third driver after Argentina's Juan Manuel Fangio and fellow German Michael Schumacher to win three titles in a row.

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The result was a remarkable one for Brawn GP, who become the first debut team to finish one-two since 1954, when Juan Manuel Fangio led home Karl Kling for Mercedes in the French Grand Prix.

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The team championship was introduced in 1958, which is why Alfa Romeo (winners of the 1950 title with Alberto Ascari) and Mercedes-Benz (winners in 1954 with Juan Manuel Fangio) are not classed as debut winners.

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If the German could take the championship in 2012, he would join Argentina's Juan Manuel Fangio and compatriot and seven-time title winner Michael Schumacher as the only men to have won the sport's biggest prize three years in a row.

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Juan Manuel Fangio 8.

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"I think two years back we would have loved to have been in Fernando's position, " said Vettel, who is hoping to become only the third driver to win three titles in a row after Juan Manuel Fangio, the great champion of the 1950s, and Vettel's fellow countryman Michael Schumacher.

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