Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner says Sebastien Vettel is now "the complete driver" and has backed the young German for the championship in 2010.

Vettel was promoted to Red Bull's number one team alongside Mark Webber in 2009, following an impressive year with Toro Rosso where he punched above his weight by clinching his first career victory in the Italian grand prix at Monza.

In 2009, in his first season with RBR, Vettel was embroiled in the world championship fight, ending the year as runner-up to Jenson Button, having taken the battle down to the penultimate race of the season in Brazil.

Horner believes that, with two full seasons under his belt, Vettel is well placed to win the championship in 2010.

"Sebastian has all the makings of a champion," Horner is quoted as saying by Planet F1.

"It's still very early to say, and ultimately he has to go out and do it.

"But he is a very intelligent driver, tremendously talented, has a high work ethic, and is a very dedicated and focused individual.

"Most of all, he is a nice guy as well, a very popular member of the team because he is very down to earth. Success hasn't changed him."

Horner believes that, while "his rise to stardom has been meteoric so far", Vettel's hunger and determination to succeed will help him to continue developing as a driver.

Formula one supremo Bernie Ecclestone has publicly declared himself as a fan of Vettel too and he considers the young German to be one of the best drivers in the current crop of drivers on the grid and as a good ambassador for the sport.

"Bernie has really warmed to him," said Horner.

"He appreciates his cheeky personality, and he is very quick-witted like Bernie, which isn't a normal trait for a German. He is very un-Germanic.

"With Bernie, he likes the way Sebastian drives, and he likes the way he handles himself.

"He is always willing to sign autographs, and as an ambassador for F1, he is fantastic."

In 2009, reliability issues hindered Vettel's charge towards the championship, however, the Milton Keynes-based outfit hope these niggles have been resolved.
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