In recent years, Sebastian Vettel has seen something of a divergence from top spot, coming fifth in the 2019 Formula One Drivers' Championship after successive second places.

Since then, in his final campaign with Scuderia Ferrari, Vettel suffered a tough swansong with the racing juggernauts and finished 13th, before signing with Aston Martin last year and pipping his previous term by one place.

With the 2022 season firmly underway, Vettel resides in 14th place with 13 points after seven races, with 10 more than team-mate Lance Stroll.

Yet, recent statistics issue a reminder to racing fans just how dominant the four-time world champion was back at the height of his illustrious career.

Vettel started with BMW briefly and then Scuderia Toro Rosso before signing with Red Bull Racing, where he won four consecutive world titles, before spending more of his career with Ferrari, though he never added to his four titles.

Current world champion Max Verstappen recently completed his 150th race in the sport and is considered the premier driver at present, leading the standings once again, but comparative figures show Vettel bests his contemporary rivals across the board after their first 150 Grands Prix.

Hamilton vs Verstappen vs Alonso vs Vettel: Stats after 150 F1 races compared

[Image credit: F1]

Vettel holds greater statistics in world titles, race wins, podiums, pole positions and fastest laps, with Verstappen only coming close with podiums, holding 67 top-three finishes to Vettel’s 73.

In fact, Vettel's early-career dominance trumps a host of other iconic racing figures, with former world champions Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso failing to match any of the 34-year-old’s stats.

The remarkable numbers are a testament to the brilliance of the Red Bull car and Seb at the time, with rival teams left in the dust as they racked up scores of victories as Vettel lifted the crown for four successive years.