Vettel replaces Button as youngest scorer

Vettel, the team's test and reserve driver, was making his race debut after Poland's Robert Kubica failed a medical examination following a big crash in the Canadian Grand Prix a week earlier.

The German will be 20 on July 3.

The previous youngest driver to score a point was Briton Jenson Button, aged 20 years and two months when he finished sixth for Williams in the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix.

"I tried to prepare myself for this kind of task. So in the end, I knew this could happen," said Vettel. "It's just a question of where and when. As a reserve driver, you always have to be fit. I think here we were quite lucky to get away with one point.

"As the first corner was quite tight already. Therefore, I was stuck in traffic that more or less destroyed our strategy. But after all, I think it's good to finish the first race. Even better, in the points.

"I could have been a bit quicker. But as I said, I was stuck quite often in traffic. Therefore, it was extremely tough to overtake the other guys there. They are not sleeping, and they know how to defend themselves. So it was extremely tough. But in the end, I am happy to finish.

"As I saw the checkered flag, I let out a cry of relief, and therefore I am quite happy for me and for the team. It was fantastic, great fun."