When Vettel won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza for Toro Rosso at the age of 21 years and 73 days, he scrapped Fernando Alonso from the history books.

Now himself relegated to second on the youngest winners list behind the stunning Max Verstappen, Vettel is happy to concede the record to a man whose achievement he appreciates, although the German remains relatively indifferent to the age factor in F1.

“Records are there to be broken,” said the Ferrari driver.

“I was so excited when I won my first race that I didn’t care if I was twenty or 25 or whatever age, I don’t think it matters [about age].

“If you’re quick enough you belong here and then as soon as you are you belong here and as long as you are you belong here, so I don’t think it matters whether you’re 18 or… I think Michael kept racing until he was 43?

“I met Stirling Moss a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately he only raced until his thirties but I think he was there to race until his fifties. Obviously cars these days are a bit easier to drive than when I started but still I think there’s nothing that speaks against…

“I don’t know how old Kimi Raikkonen is actually but 35 year old to keep fit and to drive these cars if you’re still quick enough, you’re still young enough, so that’s the bottom line.”