Current Sebastian Vettel

Lots of threads have alluded to having a discussion about the current world champion so lets get it all off our collective chests (oooeer!)

Lots has been has been written about this young man from his testing debut with BMW Sauber in 2006 aged just 19 - he then progressed to the the toro rosso team for his first full race season in 2008 - the memorable race being his drive in the wet at Fuji where he managed to rear end his future team mate Mark Webber who said ""It's kids isn't it... kids with not enough experience – they do a good job and then they :censored: **** it all up." - Little was Mark to know he would be paired with the "Kid" just 2 years later.

His maiden win came at the 2008 Italian GP where he qualified up from, the race started under the safety car in the rain and the young German led from start to finish in the Toro Rosso - becoming the youngest winner of a grand prix ever.

Then we enter the era of the Red Bull. In 2009 he joined the Red Bull team, which got off to a torrid start as he managed to crash into Kubika in Australia, a feat he would go on to repeat during the 09 season.

Last year needs no mention........

So to the crux of the matter. Is Sebastian Vettel?

the real deal, the baby schumi, the new pretender - a genuine racer? - aka Wunderkind

or

A very quick driver, who lucked into a very fast car and can bang it on pole and lead from lights to flag and be the quickest pilot of a car, yet can't overtake for toffee? aka WunOrAother

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I think he wanted to win far more that he worried about Webber's feelings and wanted to continue ramming it down Webber's throat that he was the number one driver.
 
Vettel's season goes from bad to worse.The fact that he's is even still in the title fight after all these mistakes is surprising. I reckon there's about 60 point swing compared to Hamilton that he's let slip through his fingers.

Australia - Completely outperformed by Raikkonen, safety car transformed his race.
Azerbaijan - Could have taken 2nd but for his misjudgement on the brakes late on.
France - Drove into the back of Bottas.
Germany - The crash.
Hungary - Again didn't capitalise when he had the performance advantage, Raikkonen felt he could've taken pole in the wet but for traffic. Vettel just wasn't as comfortable.
Italy - Was unwilling to cede the position to Hamilton, despite the Mercedes being alongside.
 
If Vettel manages to lose the WDC this season then serious questions will be asked, although I doubt he'd leave Ferrari or they'd want to replace him quite yet. He's certainly doing Lewis and Mercedes a favour but the team are to blame too – Vettel should have been on pole at Monza but for the team's rotation protocol. They need to wake up or let the championship slip through their fingers.
 
Who would Ferrari replace him with? Verstappen is still too impetuous, there's not many contenders to be in the number one seat of the top tier teams at the moment IMO.
 
Typical of vettel (and many other drivers) whinging when he’s ****ed up.
Kimi raced him then Vettel paid the price because his attempt to take Kimi tesulted him in being vulnerable to Hamilton where lack of a cool head (and dependence on the stewards’ lap 1 lenience) caused him to royally **** up his own race.
He’s a very childish man from time to time and it’s the main reason I don’t like him.
Ferrari should tell him to stop arsing around and threaten to drop him for Ocon next season.
 
Who would Ferrari replace him with? Verstappen is still too impetuous, there's not many contenders to be in the number one seat of the top tier teams at the moment IMO.

There was a great option that went to Renault. But vettel for all his faults his still in top 2 of F1 & after Hamilton Vettel or Riccardio your taking a risk as much as i rate some other drivers on the grid as alot like hulkenburg ocon leclerc perez are good as no2. Only 3 proper no1s now verstappen is a good number 1 but 2021
 
I don't think Vettel has won the hearts of the tifosi maybe that might be to do with his battles with Alonso where he decided he'd pay back for being forced onto the grass in 2012 for the year before and the subsequent whingeing and deflecting attention from himself for his robust tactics

If that is what he was quoted on PlanetF1 then he is beginning to burn bridges at Ferrari and losing out in the political rows. That will start to drain him, he maybe tied to Ferrari until 2020 but Bottas has only a 1 year contract so should things go even further south for Vettel he might fancy knocking on Mercedes door

I don't see Vettel staying beyond his existing contract at Ferrari because this will be his last chance to win the drivers title. Perhaps it has been suggested by Martin Brundle that Hamilton would fancy himself driving in a Ferrari in future and winning in front of the tifosi

Its interesting the Italian media said Ferrari scored an own goal rather than make it out that it was Hamilton being over aggressive and should have been punished. One Italian press even called Hamilton - Schumilton in reference to winning 5 times at Monza like Schumacher

I would think Ferrari may consider Verstappen in future if his stock still remains high but it would cost them $50m to get him or they might go for the team of Giovinazzi and Le Clerc
 
Lewis would be loved at ferrari. Because he is attacking, a character, exiting, gets the maximum out of the car. Ferrari wouldve won 2017 & 2018 title with Lewis & tifosi are probally jealous of that. Vettel maybe a bit upset that after 4 championship why he still not liked more that kimi Raikkonen

Problem Lewis is a bit too old after his next contract
 
There was a great option that went to Renault.
Neither Ferrari nor Mercedes were ever interested in him and he tried to force Red Bulls hand, but didn't give a damn because they've got Verstappen and Gasly, who they knew they could promote and doesn't have such high salary demands.
Unlike Ricciardo, Huelkenberg has actually been in negotiations with Ferrari and came close to signing a contract. Ferrari said no to Hulkenberg via text message - manager
 
Is Ricciardo really on that very top tier? Not saying he's not good, but is he at that elite level? IMO he isn't.
 
F1Brits_90

Sorry, but Hamilton would be a terrible fit at the Red Menace.

The culture at Ferrari is that success is always due to the car, and the lack of success is due to the driver.

Hamilton thinks that any success he has is strictly due to him, while his lack of success is entirely due to the car.
 
siffert_fan you make a good point about it & hadnt thought about that. But his driving style would be liked if his personality not so much as he is indulged at mercedes which works when winning but like so many luxury players in numerous sports falls apart when losing

Is Ricciardo really on that very top tier? Not saying he's not good, but is he at that elite level? IMO he isn't.

This probally say alot about the quality of the F1 grid but 10yrs ago probally not as we had some great Drivers Hamilton Button Alonso Kubica Raikkonen & arguably Vettel who were elite. Currently i had Hamilton & Vettel, was really struggling as kimi is too old. Max is too young. Bottas is too easily beaten. Rest either never given a chance & in "LMP2" don't have a chance to be an underdog. Riccardio has raced really well won quite a few races & really should be a double monaco winner
 
What did Vettel think he was doing on Sunday? Raikkonen was obviously going to go for it, as he should. Vettel did not need to try for position as with the long straights giving a good tow and it being two against the Feraris could take their time; the leader goes left, Hamilton can then go right in which case so does Raikonnen whilst Vettel goes right; Hamilton cannot go back as he has made his one and only move whilst Vettel can choose. If he wants to knpw how this works just look at two against one in cycle racing.

Vettel gets too flustered and panicky when he is not in the lead so he can cut across those who are in front of him..
 
Bill Boddy He's marginally improved from his earlier days when he use to try and squeeze people to the wall and always ended up losing out

F1Brits_90 Mansell was 36 I think when Ferrari signed him and Hamilton will be 34/35 and as long as the hunger is there . I think he would be a great fit for Ferrari in terms racing wise closer to Villeneuve and Mansell

Hamilton energises the fans which I think would go down well with the Tifosi

It depends who is at Ferrari if Hamilton signs for them. I keep going back Schumacher had Todt to shield him from the politics which meant his focus was all on the racing.

I don't see anyone at Ferrari prepare to come out and back Vettel and certainly the comments he made will not go down well
 
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