Emotional Vettel equals Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a single season

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel wrapped up the Formula One season on Sunday by winning the Brazilian Grand Prix and becoming the first driver to take nine successive victories in a single year.

The sport’s youngest quadruple world champion, still only 26 years old, also matched fellow-German Michael Schumacher’s 2004 record of 13 wins in a season.

"Guys, I am so proud of you. I love you. Remember this, enjoy this moment. Yes. We did it. This is unbelievable," said Vettel, his voice wavering over the team radio after he took the chequered flag for his 39th career win.

While he celebrated, Australian team mate Mark Webber said farewell with second place, anchoring a one-two in his 215th and final race for the champions before heading to Le Mans sportscars with Porsche.

The Australian removed his helmet on the slowing down lap, feeling the wind in his hair and letting the cheering crowd see his face.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, this season’s overall-runner-up, finished third on a day when the skies over Interlagos failed to deliver the rain that had forced delays to qualifying on Saturday.

The only other Formula One driver to win nine in a row was Italian Alberto Ascari, but his were over two campaigns in 1952-53 at a time when there were not even nine races in a season.