Sebastian Vettel won the 2011 drivers’ title race at the Japanese Grand Prix. This title is the second consecutive drivers’ championship crown for Vettel and comes after a long, but competitive season, during which the Red Bull-Renault partnership has, so far, scored 15 pole positions and nine wins.  

The Red Bull Racing-Renault partnership started in 2007 when the RS27, Renault’s 2.4 litre V8 developed in Viry-Châtillon, was integrated into the Red Bull Racing team chassis. The RS27 powered Red Bull to fifth place in the constructors’ championship in the first year of the partnership.

With two years of collaboration under its belt the Red Bull-Renault package started to pay dividends in 2009 with a debut pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing’s first win also followed, with Sebastian Vettel securing the victory in dominant style. Five further wins and pole positions would follow that year, and Red Bull Racing-Renault finished second in the constructors’ championship.

The die was cast for 2010 and Red Bull Racing-Renault duly delivered on its 2009 promise: pole position at the first race and a victory at the third race of the season in Malaysia. It was to go down to the wire however despite nine wins and 15 poles scored that season. The constructors’ championship was secured at the penultimate race in Brazil but Sebastian Vettel had to wait until Abu Dhabi to be crowned drivers’ world champion.