91�ȱ�

Sebastian Vettel has been named the 91�ȱ� Overseas Sports Personality of the Year after winning his fourth successive Formula 1 World Championship.

The Red Bull driver, 26, won the final race in Brazil to equal a record of nine consecutive F1 victories set by Alberto Ascari between 1952-53.

He also matched Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a single season.

German Vettel joins legends Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Schumacher as a four-time champion.

It is the first time Vettel, who made his Formula 1 debut in 2007, has been given the 91�ȱ� honour.

"Thank you very much for the award," said Vettel, who did not attend the awards ceremony in Leeds. "It's something very special if I look at the list of previous winners.

"It's been a fantastic year."

The 10 races before the summer break saw five different drivers - Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Vettel - take victory.

But on resumption, Vettel won every single race - nine in total - to move his career victory tally to 39. That moved him up to fourth on the all-time lists with only Schumacher, Prost and Ayrton Senna ahead.

After winning the title at the Indian Grand Prix, with four races to spare, Vettel said: "I'm speechless. I don't know what to say, I crossed the line and I was just empty.

"You want to think of something to say and I just can't. It has been an amazing season, the spirit in the team is great."

Vettel celebrated his title win with a series of perfect 'doughnut' spins on the start-finish straight.