Sebastian Vettel has recalled how an extraordinary Red Bull meeting nearly denied him his first world championship title.

Vettel was in just his second season at the team in 2010 and with just two races to go was in a five-way title race along with his team-mate Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, he was fourth and 25 points behind championship leader Alonso's tally of 231 points, with Webber in second on 220 points and Hamilton on 210 points.

A chaotic qualifying in Interlagos saw Williams rookie Nico Hulkenberg take pole but Vettel pipped Webber to the front row, with the Australian third ahead of Hamilton and Alonso.

Horner's bold Vettel call at Interlagos

Following qualifying, Vettel has now revealed that Red Bull chiefs Christian Horner and Helmut Marko wanted the German to let Webber beat him in the race as they thought the former Williams, Jaguar and Minardi driver was their best hope of overhauling Alonso in the championship.

In his new documentary 'Being Sebastian Vettel', the four-time world champion said: "Then came the race in Brazil. There, Dr. Marko and Christian Horner, the team principal, pulled me aside and said on Saturday: 'Okay, you're in front now, but we want Mark to win because he has more points in the World Championship.'"

Vettel though admitted after giving himself time to think, he refused to concede his own title hopes until they were officially over.

He added: "Phew, well, I believed in my own chances and then said: 'Okay, we'll talk tomorrow.' [I] slept on it and then said to the three of them: 'I'm the ultimate team player.'

"If any situation arises where I can no longer continue, I'll immediately move over and make way.

"But I'm still in the race myself. And as long as I'm still in the race, I'll drive my own race."

Vettel takes crucial Brazil and Abu Dhabi wins

Vettel went on to win in Brazil, with Webber second and Alonso third, keeping the title race open between the three drivers and Hamilton heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

It proved crucial at the Yas Marina circuit, with Alonso choosing to cover off an early stop for Webber, only for them both to get stuck behind sixth placed Vitaly Petrov.

Vettel took advantage to win the race from Hamilton and Button, pipping Alonso to the title by just four points.

Had he made way for Webber in Brazil, he would have finished on 249 points along with Webber and three points behind Alonso.

Vettel recalled how even before the race, talk was on how Webber could be world champion.

He said: "Mark then asked again: 'What about this, and how do we handle it here and there?'

"And at some point, the question came to me: 'What do you think about all this?'

"I thought to myself, 'Yeah, what a load of rubbish,'"

"Of course, these possibilities exist, but it will all come to an end eventually. So, we don't need to worry about it."

"And at some point the question came to me and I said: 'Yes, for me... it's very simple: I want to win the race and the rest is not in my hands.'"