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[onelapdown]

I've been looking at the gaps between team-mates based on the quickest laps each driver managed over the two race weekends, and while as expected Piquet is a full 0.87% behind Alonso, the 2nd worst-matched partnership, the worst matched by far are the Torro Rosso boys, with a full 1.48% between them.

Bourdais did, to his credit, keep it on the island in Australia and looked good for fourth until his engine blew, but this owed much to the safety car. On absolute pace terms he is 19th fastest, while Vettel is 11th. so is Vettel amazing or is Bourdais useless?

(methodology: the fastest time in any session during a weekend is taken for each driver and compared to the fastest overall time recorded by anyone as a percentage.)

[darwin dali]

SV is fast - he'll take over as a regular world champion contender and winner. You've read it here first...

[Red Racer]

I think vettel is quick and Bourdais is more consistant, In aus he pulled away from the battle behind him because he was consistant. I think everyone expected him to be good just because hes won champcar 4 times but champ car is like dreiving a truck compared to a F1. And i dont understand why he didnt move up after his 2nd year wining champcar that would really prove if he had what it takes.

[8-ball]

Vettel is Ferrari's next champion. As soon as Massa is fired or kimi retires then he will be in the seat. He and sutil are two of the best drivers in two of the worst teams (pace wise)

[Ragnar]

I think vettel is quick and Bourdais is more consistant, In aus he pulled away from the battle behind him because he was consistant. I think everyone expected him to be good just because hes won champcar 4 times but champ car is like dreiving a truck compared to a F1. And i dont understand why he didnt move up after his 2nd year wining champcar that would really prove if he had what it takes.

I am not sure how moving up after his 2nd would have proven anything? He did not turn down a ride to stay in champ car no one was offering one. After 4 in a row they had no choice but to stop ignoring him. I dont see how you can say he is slow when he did so well in Aus. He got booted in the last one and that was not his fault. He needs to work on qualifying but when it comes to the race I think he is the equal of Vettel.

[7UpJordan]

Vettel was already quick before Bourdais even set a foot in an F1 car. I think we can't judge Bourdais too much though after effectively 1 race as he was taken off on lap 1 at Malaysia. He did look quite comfortable though ahead of Alonso and Kovalainen in Melbourne and I think it's at chaotic races where Bourdais will go exceptionally well. Perhaps I should put an outside bet on him getting a podium at Montreal.

[f1ea]

Vettel is really good, and has much more kms in an F1 and in the team than Bourdais.
Bourdais is also really good (or at least for the moment very promising) and just joined F1 this season; coming from dominating and being the star in a very different series (specially coming from slick tyres and with the constant development going on in F1), i'd say it should take him some time to show his true pace.

[McLaren Fan]

I shall be surprised if Vettel is not at least a three-time champion. He is fast, good at testing and setting up the car, but can be a little inconsistent at the minute. That, however, will come with another season or two of experience. Bourdais is probably not Formula One material, but I'm prepared to let him show us what he can do before making a solid judgement. He's experienced, so will be able to pick up points due to that. In that regard, he's the perfect foil to Vettel.

[texasmr2]

Vettel is quick no doubt but does he have what it take's within the next 3-5yr's to win a championship unless he goes to a top 4 team, no imho. SB know's how to win championship's but will he in the next 3-5yr's win a WDC unless he goes to a top 4 team, no again imho.

I have witnessed simply amazing drive's from SB but not from Vettel. I would like to see both of them get a top drive and then the experience part will play out, maybe. They are my top two choice's for replacing Massa at Ferrari.

[onelapdown]

I shall be surprised if Vettel is not at least a three-time champion.

The number of drivers I've heard that said about them... Coulthard, Fisichella, Jenson Button, even Ralf Schumacher!!! I think Vettel is on course to have a very promising career indeed, but I still find it difficult to really place him.

As for Bourdais, I understand about the kind of savvy it takes to win a title, but it also takes pace - and he simply doesn't appear to have it yet. I saw Zanardi take some outstanding wins in Champ Cars, and that was when it meant something, but he was way off in F1 in 1999 sadly. However good Vettel is, I simply don't think it's acceptable to be 1-1.5 seconds a lap slower than your team-mate. He needs to improve fast if he wants to hang around for any length of time.

[texasmr2]

Agreed mate and they both need top four atleast WCC car's to show their stuff. Hell if they cannot even finish the race or qualify within the top 6-8 what does it matter right? They both need a stable, reliable and progressively improving team and car.

What we have with these two driver's is the potential too really mix thing's up and be consistant point's scorer's if not podium finisher's, I hope they both get the chance to drive for a top 4 team while they are in F1.

[Rivelution]

Vettel was already quick before Bourdais even set a foot in an F1 car. I think we can't judge Bourdais too much though after effectively 1 race as he was taken off on lap 1 at Malaysia. He did look quite comfortable though ahead of Alonso and Kovalainen in Melbourne and I think it's at chaotic races where Bourdais will go exceptionally well. Perhaps I should put an outside bet on him getting a podium at Montreal.

...Well said, couldnt agree with you more. I do however hope that Bourdais does prove himself. I almost nearly killed someone when his engine blew in AUS with 2 laps to go, but thats STR for ya!

[onelapdown]

Vettel was already quick before Bourdais even set a foot in an F1 car. I think we can't judge Bourdais too much though after effectively 1 race as he was taken off on lap 1 at Malaysia. He did look quite comfortable though ahead of Alonso and Kovalainen in Melbourne and I think it's at chaotic races where Bourdais will go exceptionally well. Perhaps I should put an outside bet on him getting a podium at Montreal.

I agree the traditional chaos in Montreal would suit him, but the rest I take issue with.

Firstly Bourdais first tested for Arrows in 2002, a year before Vettel graduated from karts. He then tested for Renault at the end of the year. Why weren't people ranting and raving about him then?

Secondly given that for each driver I took the quickest of all laps throughout the weekend's running, I don't think an early retirement is important. My point is he simply doesn't have the sheer pace (yet).

It is nice, though, to have an old-fashioned versatile driver who has driven sportscars as well as single-seaters.