Vettel could go to BMW: What would Vettel's career have been like?

Where many see Vettel as a product of the Red Bull training, Vettel was more than that. He also drove around as a BMW junior and former BMW team boss Mario Theissen knows that all too well. ''I was at the start of a race in 2002 and then someone pulled on my shirt and said: I'm Sebastian and next season I'll drive for you'', remembers Theissen the moment of 14-year-old Vettel.

Vettel to BMW

The German would indeed be active in Formula BMW the following year and crown himself a Rookie of the Year. A year later Vettel made even more of an impression with the title, where he won more than eighteen of the twenty races. ''It was very impressive what he showed at the time. He was already a Red Bull-junior, but as a manufacturer we also wanted to link him to us'', Theissen now announces.

With Red Bull's permission Vettel also came under the flag of BMW and was even given the role of test driver at BMW. The ties were thus severed with Red Bull and the German even got the chance to replace Kubica at the American Grand Prix in 2007. Vettel immediately scored points during his very first race, breaking the record for the youngest points scorer.

Still back to Red Bull

However, Kubica got his seat back and then Toro Rosso decided to give up Scott Speed. So a seat became available and Vettel was keen for it. ''It was clear he was going to seize the opportunity and that was never a problem for us. We had two good drivers with Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica with whom we wanted to go to the top, you can't take a risk with a young talent," said Theissen to Motorsport-total.com.

However, Vettel would win a race with Toro Rosso and four titles to his name at Red Bull Racing. However, the then team boss has no regrets. ''You can't assess risks afterwards. You make choices and you never know how that will unfold,'' concludes Theissen.