Vettel celebrates French Grands Prix award

Sebastian Vettel was presented with the ’Grands Prix de l’Academie des Sports 2011’ award at Les Invalides in Paris on Monday.

The award, presented by the President of the Academy of Sports, Frenchman Emmanuel Rodocanachi and voted for by 50 of its members, recognised the Red Bull Racing driver for his "Double consecutive F1 World Champion at the age of twenty four - winner of eleven Grands Prix 2011 out of nineteen".

Sebastian said:"It’s a great honour obviously. To join a lot of great names in sport is something very special. So it’s great to be here and great to get the award."

Previous Formula One winners of the award which celebrates ’the author of the finest feat accomplished by athletes in the world last year’ include Juan Manuel Fangio (1957), Jim Clark (1965), Jackie Stewart (1973), Nicki Lauda (1977), Alain Prost (1989) and Michael Schumacher (2001).

Other recipients for 2011 include Austrian skier Elizabeth Gorgl who received the Monique-Berlioux award for a remarkable 2011 performance and the French female football team who received the Emmanuel-Rodocanachi award for best performance by a French team.