When Sebastian Vettel eventually retires from Formula One, this season may well be remembered as his best.

Next year’s championship will be a more level playing field as teams and drivers get to grips with new, less powerful engines, and the impending regulation changes could somewhat negate Red Bull’s current superiority.

The German beat out Australia’s Mark Webber to win Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with consummate ease, and can set a single-season record with an eighth straight win at the US GP

If he then wins the season-ending Brazilian GP he will equal Michael Schumacher’s record of 13 wins in a season.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the driver has “really hit a purple patch of form and he is certainly driving better than I have ever seen”.

The 26-year-old Vettel is eyeing the all-time record of nine consecutive wins, achieved by Italian driver Alberto Ascari over the 1952-53 seasons.

“I knew that any kind of record you talk about, Michael is involved for sure,” Vettel said after winning the Abu Dhabi GP by more than 30 seconds.

“The guys you talk about are the most special drivers in the world in Formula One. I don’t think I’m old enough to realise.”