FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Sebastian Vettel: what makes German such a world class Formula One driver

By Tom Cary
6:51PM BST 09 Oct 2011

Sebastian Vettel confirmed his status as double world champion in Suzuka. Tom Cary looks at what makes the Red Bull driver so worthy of his latest crown.

1. He can race as well as drive
If there is one issue on which the jury is still out regarding Vettel, it would be overtaking.

That is largely because he has not been forced to race regularly from further back in the field, but there have been occasions in 2011 when Vettel has shown his mettle in this department.

After his pit-stops in Barcelona, for instance, when he could not afford to lose time to the faster McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, Vettel made crucial passes in double-quick time allowing him to maintain track position and hold off a late Hamilton charge.

His 185mph pass around the outside of Fernando Alonso at Monza, meanwhile, was simply brilliant; bold, opportunistic, a champion’s move.

2. His race craft is improving
This year’s regulations have thrown up plenty of challenges; chief among them the new fast-degrading Pirelli rubber, which has meant loads of pit-stops and therefore the opportunity for different race strategies.

This favours drivers such as Jenson Button, who is adept at thinking on his feet and reacting to what is happening during a race.

Button met his match in Monaco, where Vettel made a bold call to stay out for 56 laps on a set of balding prime tyres, gambling that no one would be able to pass him.

He was right. A late accident meant Vettel was able to switch to a set of soft tyres before the end anyway. A very intelligent drive.

3. He has blown Webber away
Some people forget that Mark Webber went into the final race of 2010, in Abu Dhabi, with a better chance of winning the championship than Vettel.

The Australian had fought all year with the young German and had won numerous on- and off-track battles.

This year Vettel has been on a different planet. Crucially, he was quicker getting up to speed with the new Pirelli tyres and the 12-3 qualifying record tells its own story.

Webber has not become a slow driver overnight. In fact, he was always known as something of a one-lap specialist. Vettel has simply upped his game and blown the Australian away.

4. Consistency
Red Bull threw away a mountain of points last year because of issues of car reliability and driver error.

Vettel was not blameless in the latter department; he made several poor starts; lost concentration in Hungary behind the safety car earning a drive-through; and got involved in enough collisions for McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh to dub him the Crash Kid.

How ironic that name sounds now in light of Hamilton’s recent travails.

Vettel has been largely faultless this year, albeit no one has got close enough to apply real pressure.

He has crashed three times in Friday practice but came back to win two of those grands prix, while his brief ‘off’ on the final lap in Canada, gifting the win to Button, was just about his only notable in-race mistake.

5. Maturity
Vettel was only 23 when he became Formula One’s youngest world champion.

And while he has not grown up in quite the same goldfish bowl as the previous holder of that record, Hamilton, Vettel was, like the Englishman, groomed for stardom since the age of 13.

It would have been easy to get a little big-headed.

There were occasions in 2010, notably when Webber was enjoying a purple patch around the time of Spain-Monaco-Turkey, when Vettel lost his cool, culminating in him waving his finger around his head as if to say Webber was crazy after their collision in Istanbul.

Yes, he has been under little pressure this year but he has at all times appeared grounded, humble and good humoured.

A worthy world champion.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Japanese Grand Prix 2011: Sebastian Vettel ready to rule Formula One for 10 years following second world title

Jenson Button was only half-joking. Asked for his appraisal of Formula One’s youngest double world champion to date, the response came back almost instantly: “------ Germans.”

By Tom Cary, F1 Correspondent, in Suzuka
10:00PM BST 09 Oct 2011

It was a neat quip, but it came laced with apprehension. Button had just won a thrilling and hugely emotional victory in Japan — a country still reeling from the after-effects of March’s tsunami and which Button regards as his second home — but it was the person sitting to his left who was grinning widest: Die Weltmeister, Sebastian Vettel.

At the tender age of 24 years and 99 days, that “------ German” can look forward to spending at least another decade at the top. If he carries on like this no one else is going to get a look-in. Even the 91 victories and seven world titles of his hero and compatriot Michael Schumacher, previously thought untouchable, may be in jeopardy.

It was Schumacher’s achievement in winning the 2002 gong with six races remaining that Vettel was commenting on when Button interjected with his Basil Fawlty-esque aside. “What exactly do you mean?” grinned Vettel, arching an eyebrow in mock protest. He has always enjoyed British humour.

At least Vettel only managed to wrap up this title with four races remaining. Perhaps we should be thankful for that. The worry is, with the 'Brains of Milton Keynes’, technical director Adrian Newey, also signed up for the long term, the combination of man and machine may prove irresistible for a while yet.

Could we be seeing the start of a Schumacher-Ferrari type era of domination? Vettel is certainly ambitious enough, his easy-going demeanour masking a ruthless core.

This championship was won months ago, yet you could tell what Sunday meant to him. As he crossed the finish line in third place on the day, it was a while before he was able to say anything. Then a voice cracked with emotion came on the radio. “Thank you so much,” it said softly. “Every single one. We took nothing for granted. And we did it.” It was the very essence of what makes this young driver so special: humility, ambition and determination.

Later, once the podium celebrations were over and Vettel had extricated himself from a sea of Red Bull mechanics, he was asked to expand on his emotions.

“It’s difficult to know where to begin,” he said. “There are so many things you want to say at this moment but it’s hard to remember all of them. I don’t know what to say.” But he did. He thanked his family, his team, his team-mate Mark Webber. He paid particular tribute to his trainer, Tommi Parmakoski.

“He was the one not allowing me at any stage this year to lose the grip, or think about things that are not in our control,” Vettel said.

“I think today we saw that it is extremely tight. Tighter than maybe sometimes it looked this year.”

That is the hope to which the rest of the paddock is clinging. With the 2012 regulations featuring no major changes, the experts tell us the start of next season should closely resemble the end of this.

And with fewer than 10 seconds separating the top four cars at the finish, those of an optimistic bent are predicting that the top teams will be closely matched.

Button is one of those optimists. After celebrating his new McLaren contract with a stunning win at one of the classic circuits, there may be a few more.

Despite being squeezed on to the grass by Vettel off the start line, a move for which the German was fortunate to escape sanction and which saw Button leapfrogged by his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, the 2009 world champion remained cool; played the long game.

A slow puncture for Hamilton allowed Button to reclaim second spot and it was not long before he had the lead, emerging from his second pit stop on lap 20 just ahead of Vettel.

Despite running short of fuel and being put under late pressure by Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who had also managed to pass Vettel, Button always had pace to burn.

He proved it, too, by setting the fastest lap of the race — only the sixth time in his career — on the penultimate loop as Alonso threatened to get into DRS range.

A magnificent win; Button’s third of the year and a particularly rare one for him on a high-speed track and in the dry. But the truth is the day belonged to Vettel, who joined a list of champions which includes Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Damon Hill to have been crowned in Japan.

After a brief remonstration with the German for his opening-lap antics, Button was happy to give his rival a hug. He said he could empathise with his verbal outpourings. “I remember when I won the world championship,” Button said. “It was like: what am I supposed to feel right now?

“It normally comes when you’re on your own and you can really think about what you have achieved. I’m sure Seb’s going to look forward to that at about five or six in the morning.” Again Vettel grinned. “Oh no. Afternoon,” he replied.

Watch out for a severely hung-over two-time world champion at this weekend’s Korean Grand Prix.

Heppenheim’s record-breaker headed off to Red Bull’s post-race party last night hell-bent on pushing through to daybreak in the Land of the Rising Sun.

[killem2]

Flavio speaks out:-

New world champion Sebastian Vettel is not the best driver in Formula 1, according to former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore. "Vettel is definitely good," said the Italian. "But he won because he best managed his phenomenal car. He is not the best. If there was a race where they were all in the same car, Vettel would be behind Fernando Alonso and also Lewis Hamilton. On a qualifying lap, I see Vettel in pole position, then Hamilton and Alonso third."

That's saying a lot, it really is.

Yes, about Flabio. Most champions win 'cos they have the best car but I doubt he'd say the same if his boy Alonso won in the Red Bull.

I can't take this bloated orange dishonest cheating supermodel boinking lecherous creep seriously. This is the same guy that suggested that F1 races be split into 2 parts like GP2 races!

Be that as it may, the dude was Alonzo's boss, and he's putting Alonzo below Hamilton? (Not that I disagree!) It seems odd to me.

[vlad]

Who is insane enough to believe anything Flavio says?

[andrew]

Who is insane enough to believe anything Flavio says?

The Mad Hater isn't mad enough!

[bud]

Everyone has an arsehole

[killem2]

Who is insane enough to believe anything Flavio says?

His comment is strictly F1. I do not doubt his over all integrity or rather lack there of, but he has nothing to gain or lose by commenting for or against Vettel. He has been part of successful winning championship runs. I find it incredibly hard to completely write off someone when they have not done anything to deserve writing off. Sure, allowing someone with his record to compete in f1 in any form would be hard to do with his past. With that said, it is not logical to discredit someone on one level in regards to something completely different.

It would be like saying in 30 years and Alonzo comments on the the next Vettel and we are here spouting off that he doesn't know what he's talking about because of his scandal at mclaren. When in reality his talent and experience will still be listened to many years from now.

[Hammer278]

Who is insane enough to believe anything Flavio says?

His comment is strictly F1. I do not doubt his over all integrity or rather lack there of, but he has nothing to gain or lose by commenting for or against Vettel. He has been part of successful winning championship runs. I find it incredibly hard to completely write off someone when they have not done anything to deserve writing off. Sure, allowing someone with his record to compete in f1 in any form would be hard to do with his past. With that said, it is not logical to discredit someone on one level in regards to something completely different.

It would be like saying in 30 years and Alonzo comments on the the next Vettel and we are here spouting off that he doesn't know what he's talking about because of his scandal at mclaren. When in reality his talent and experience will still be listened to many years from now.

I'd believe his opinion a lot more than 10 andrews and vlad put together, thats for sure. Since he's been in F1...and managed a double WDC and all.

[andrew]

Everyone has an arsehole

And Flabio is an opinion.

[vlad]

Oh, Hammer....

[AKR]

You do know that Ferrari are just an F1 team and a manufacturer of overpriced and impractical cars and not the centre of the known universe?

Go tell that to all the people who are not F1 fans. They will tell you that Ferraris look good anf go fast and cost a lot of money. Then go tell them about Renault and the answer it that they are an everyday affordable cheap car, and then tell them about Mercedes and they will day they are an expensive luxury car, but not an exotic sports car for speed and looks like Ferrari. Then mention McLaren and they will have no idea. This is what most people in your street would know. Thus drive and win for Ferrari because everyone will know your name, not just F1 fans. Remember, Honour and Glory are Forever.

You are kidding if you think Ferrari's global reputation is all based on F1, or F1 based on Ferrari, or that as Andrew said Ferrari is the end all of either.

With regards to the former, there are exotic cars that have nothing to do with F1 that are known on the same level as Ferrari. Lamborghini, Porsche, even Mclaren and Bugatti are all names that pop up when you talk about Supercars. The McLaren F1 and MP4-12C both destroy their competition from all the other manufacturers. The rap guys love the Lambos. The Bugatti is the finest piece of machinery built to date. Ferrari makes fantastic, sexy cars but they are not the last word in Supercars.

With regards to the latter, F1 would survive, possibly even thrive without Ferrari. There are two other top teams who seem to be in it for the long haul and many names all down the field that have been there for a long time. Perhaps F1 could even pick up more big name constructors if it wasn't for the favoritism that is shown Ferrari and the sway they hold in terms of the rules and regulations due to that favoritism.

Regardless of what they do off the track, a Formula One team is measured by two things. The World Driver's Championship and the World Constructors Championship. As a member of the "Ferrari can do no wrong" cult, I am sure you need to keep believing that F1 is Ferrari to keep from jumping off a bridge with how terrible they have been the last couple years. But you are sorely mistaken. And the suits at Ferrari are going to play chicken with the FIA one too many times some day and learn that the hard way.

yes but Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche have no F1 competition. When people hear Ferrari they know they make supercars and that they race in an open wheeler world championship (that we know as F1). McLaren now make road cars, but its still small and releatively new. Only car and racing enthusiasts would really know about McLaren and not your everyday person. Oh and Lambo, you really have to be kidding about them. They virtually have no racing hertiage. The best supercars are the ones that have a racing program and can put what they learn from the track on their road cars. This is why Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren road cars are generally much better performers on the race track than Lambo. Even Nissan would walk all over Lambo on the track. Remember to this day Lamborghini has never won any major championships. But then that is to be expected from a tractor builder trying to make sportscars.

[Ichabod]

You do know that Ferrari are just an F1 team and a manufacturer of overpriced and impractical cars and not the centre of the known universe?

Go tell that to all the people who are not F1 fans. They will tell you that Ferraris look good anf go fast and cost a lot of money. Then go tell them about Renault and the answer it that they are an everyday affordable cheap car, and then tell them about Mercedes and they will day they are an expensive luxury car, but not an exotic sports car for speed and looks like Ferrari. Then mention McLaren and they will have no idea. This is what most people in your street would know. Thus drive and win for Ferrari because everyone will know your name, not just F1 fans. Remember, Honour and Glory are Forever.

You are kidding if you think Ferrari's global reputation is all based on F1, or F1 based on Ferrari, or that as Andrew said Ferrari is the end all of either.

With regards to the former, there are exotic cars that have nothing to do with F1 that are known on the same level as Ferrari. Lamborghini, Porsche, even Mclaren and Bugatti are all names that pop up when you talk about Supercars. The McLaren F1 and MP4-12C both destroy their competition from all the other manufacturers. The rap guys love the Lambos. The Bugatti is the finest piece of machinery built to date. Ferrari makes fantastic, sexy cars but they are not the last word in Supercars.

With regards to the latter, F1 would survive, possibly even thrive without Ferrari. There are two other top teams who seem to be in it for the long haul and many names all down the field that have been there for a long time. Perhaps F1 could even pick up more big name constructors if it wasn't for the favoritism that is shown Ferrari and the sway they hold in terms of the rules and regulations due to that favoritism.

Regardless of what they do off the track, a Formula One team is measured by two things. The World Driver's Championship and the World Constructors Championship. As a member of the "Ferrari can do no wrong" cult, I am sure you need to keep believing that F1 is Ferrari to keep from jumping off a bridge with how terrible they have been the last couple years. But you are sorely mistaken. And the suits at Ferrari are going to play chicken with the FIA one too many times some day and learn that the hard way.

yes but Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche have no F1 competition. When people hear Ferrari they know they make supercars and that they race in an open wheeler world championship (that we know as F1). McLaren now make road cars, but its still small and releatively new. Only car and racing enthusiasts would really know about McLaren and not your everyday person. Oh and Lambo, you really have to be kidding about them. They virtually have no racing hertiage. The best supercars are the ones that have a racing program and can put what they learn from the track on their road cars. This is why Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren road cars are generally much better performers on the race track than Lambo. Even Nissan would walk all over Lambo on the track. Remember to this day Lamborghini has never won any major championships. But then that is to be expected from a tractor builder trying to make sportscars.

I remember watching a Top Gear where a Mitsubishi Evo was all over a Lamborghini round the Top Gear Test Track,
the Evo was driven by Clarkson And the Lambo by a BTCC driver, and i think the lambo ended up spinning

[AKR]

You do know that Ferrari are just an F1 team and a manufacturer of overpriced and impractical cars and not the centre of the known universe?

Go tell that to all the people who are not F1 fans. They will tell you that Ferraris look good anf go fast and cost a lot of money. Then go tell them about Renault and the answer it that they are an everyday affordable cheap car, and then tell them about Mercedes and they will day they are an expensive luxury car, but not an exotic sports car for speed and looks like Ferrari. Then mention McLaren and they will have no idea. This is what most people in your street would know. Thus drive and win for Ferrari because everyone will know your name, not just F1 fans. Remember, Honour and Glory are Forever.

You are kidding if you think Ferrari's global reputation is all based on F1, or F1 based on Ferrari, or that as Andrew said Ferrari is the end all of either.

With regards to the former, there are exotic cars that have nothing to do with F1 that are known on the same level as Ferrari. Lamborghini, Porsche, even Mclaren and Bugatti are all names that pop up when you talk about Supercars. The McLaren F1 and MP4-12C both destroy their competition from all the other manufacturers. The rap guys love the Lambos. The Bugatti is the finest piece of machinery built to date. Ferrari makes fantastic, sexy cars but they are not the last word in Supercars.

With regards to the latter, F1 would survive, possibly even thrive without Ferrari. There are two other top teams who seem to be in it for the long haul and many names all down the field that have been there for a long time. Perhaps F1 could even pick up more big name constructors if it wasn't for the favoritism that is shown Ferrari and the sway they hold in terms of the rules and regulations due to that favoritism.

Regardless of what they do off the track, a Formula One team is measured by two things. The World Driver's Championship and the World Constructors Championship. As a member of the "Ferrari can do no wrong" cult, I am sure you need to keep believing that F1 is Ferrari to keep from jumping off a bridge with how terrible they have been the last couple years. But you are sorely mistaken. And the suits at Ferrari are going to play chicken with the FIA one too many times some day and learn that the hard way.

yes but Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche have no F1 competition. When people hear Ferrari they know they make supercars and that they race in an open wheeler world championship (that we know as F1). McLaren now make road cars, but its still small and releatively new. Only car and racing enthusiasts would really know about McLaren and not your everyday person. Oh and Lambo, you really have to be kidding about them. They virtually have no racing hertiage. The best supercars are the ones that have a racing program and can put what they learn from the track on their road cars. This is why Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren road cars are generally much better performers on the race track than Lambo. Even Nissan would walk all over Lambo on the track. Remember to this day Lamborghini has never won any major championships. But then that is to be expected from a tractor builder trying to make sportscars.

I remember watching a Top Gear where a Mitsubishi Evo was all over a Lamborghini round the Top Gear Test Track,
the Evo was driven by Clarkson And the Lambo by a BTCC driver, and i think the lambo ended up spinning

Yeah that is because the Lambo belongs on a cattle farm with all the other tractors.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

...Yeah that is because the Lambo belongs on a cattle farm with all the other tractors.

Some are.



Yes, that is Ferruccio standing on the tractor.

[Bubbie]

You miss my point AKR. You were saying that people put Ferrari over all else. Both on the F1 track and off, that is not the case. I have given examples of both on and off track where they are not head and shoulders above all else.

If you think people don't know about the McLaren F1, which was one of the greatest supercars of all time, you are sadly mistaken.

If you didn't like the Murcielago, then you have something wrong with your head.