How Good is Sebastian Vettel?

[Olivier]

He must be pretty darn good. He's the 8th greatest driver! - At least according to this story that I'm sure someone has already posted - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19487080

So he's better than Lauda, Piquet and Brabham, all 3 times WDC ...

 

[F1Yorkshire]

If we rename this thread to "How lucky is Sebastian Vettel" then we could be singing his praises till the cows come home.

I think we need to see the overtaking figures to see how many of Vettels gains were against reasonable machinery, only his pass on Button stood out as a competitive overtake, todays race seems to be down luck and poor driving by others.

 

[Fenderman]

The luck, fortune or fate factor is bizarre indeed. Thinking about it, that may be food for another thread as if I mention bad luck I could well derail this thread ... oh wait ...

 

[Brogan]

For what was a relatively poor drive from Vettel today, clipping a car and almost rear ending another, forcing him to take avoiding action and hitting a marker board, he certainly was fortunate to get the result he did.
Undoubtedly he would have struggled to get into the points without as many incidents in front of him, not to mention the safety cars.

Of course he had to keep pushing as hard as he could and this race is a perfect example of why drivers should do that.

 

[Jen]

Can anyone cite a WDC who has not made some points from luck and lost some from 'bad luck'? It's a very old argument and one that can not be proved or disproved - it is also a factor that has a huge affect in all areas of life.

 

[Slyboogy]

Well I think this race cancels out Alonso's in Valencia where the same situation arised.

Two safety cars bringing Alonso and Vettel into play.
Several retirements in front, gaining them more points.
One good overtake by both Alonso on Grosjean, Vettel on Button.
Both finish on the podium.

 

[Jos the Boss]

What about Alonso on Webber, Maldonado, Schumi, Hulkenberg and Senna?

 

[Vortex]

Poor? POOR? From last to 3rd! Blimey, Id love to see what the kid could do on a good day then!

And didn’t that first safety car actually hurt Vettel rather than help him? He had the off whilst following in the safety car pack and had to pit putting him back into last position! If there wasn’t that first safety car that incident wouldn’t have happened and he’d have been even further up the road.

 

[Kamui-FastestChefInTheWorld]

Poor? POOR? From last to 3rd! Blimey, Id love to see what the kid could do on a good day then!

And didn’t that first safety car actually hurt Vettel rather than help him? He had the off whilst following in the safety car pack and had to pit putting him back into last position! If there wasn’t that first safety car that incident wouldn’t have happened and he’d have been even further up the road.

Would have been further up, but in terms of time would have been further away, I think.

 

[Vortex]

Well when he got back into the same position from where he fell from we’d have to check the gap to the leader to see. But then he’d still have fewer laps left in which to catch them.

 

[Brogan]

Poor? POOR?

Yes, it was a poor drive from Vettel's usual standard.

You can still have a good result even after a poor drive, as we have seen today.

 

[Vortex]

But it wasn’t a poor drive at all. That’s just plain ridiculous.

If it had been Hamilton the opinions on here I feel would be very different indeed.

 

[Jos the Boss]

Can Vettel only do well in the best car? I would have liked to see how he did on his original set up

 

[mnmracer]

Apparently it's luck to have your front wing knocked off, losing time, place and your tire strategy.
Apparently it's luck to have people crash out from behind you, gaining you a massive 0,0 seconds.

 

[Wombcat]

If Vettels' drive was poor, then so was Buttons' in Canada last year. After all he got a penalty and benefitted from 2 SC's, just as Vettel did today. OK, he won, but he didn't start from last position.

 

[Brogan]

But it wasn’t a poor drive at all.

He hit someone damaging his own front wing.

He almost rear ended Ricciardo and took avoiding action, hitting a marker board, almost ending his race.

He overtook off the circuit and had to concede a place.

So yes, it was a poor drive based on Vettel's own high standards.

The Hamilton jibe won't work against me I'm afraid, I'm far from his biggest fan.

 

[Boyle]

Once he put the new front wing on, Vettel was excellent. The incidents when he damaged his front wing left a lot to be desired but he drove the nuts off the thing and whilst there were incidents that benefited him, he drove very well. Button did very well to hold him off and was intelligent enough to use the DRS he gained from Alonso for a few laps to take the sting out of Seb's charge, eventually losing out though when Vettel got a good run - both drivers should be commended for the driving skill shown there considering that everyone else seemed to go insane.

Vettel is very good, possibly great, but not as good as Kimi

 

[The Artist.....]

But it wasn’t a poor drive at all. That’s just plain ridiculous.

If it had been Hamilton the opinions on here I feel would be very different indeed.

This race reminds me of Monte Carlo 2008.... Sometimes what may appear to be bad fortune can transform into good fortune!

 

[TN23]

Vettel is a very good driver, undoubtedly. I always had deep reservations about him, not because he wasn't naturally quick- that's where he has the edge on perhaps all the drivers- but it was his decision-making in pressure situations. This was exposed in 2009, and more obviously in 2010. Having stumbled unconvincingly to his first title, he shot up in my estimation in 2011 by being better under pressure, using his strengths much more to his advantage, and being tactically astute. The difference between 2010 and 2011 was absolutely night and day. It was 2011, not 2010, when I began to think that Vettel was one of the best around. As an all-rounder, though, not on a par with Alonso, but he may have equalled and surpassed Hamilton in my not-that-objective or accurate view of things.

 

[Il_leone]

If Vettels' drive was poor, then so was Buttons' in Canada last year. After all he got a penalty and benefitted from 2 SC's, just as Vettel did today. OK, he won, but he didn't start from last position.

I knew someone will compare this difference was Button was sent to the back pretty much by his puncture then his speeding in the pitlane

It was the damp conditions when he suddenly was way quicker than anyone and started pulling off passes on the track others were struggling with ....what made it sweet was Vettel spinning at the end showing why Vettel is overrated especially if only more occasions like that happen to Seb you feel he would crack or do a silly move and crash


The fact was at Abu Dhabi he was allowed to modify the whole car to be fast in a straight line because he had to pass. I hope someone realises under penalties cars should not be modified