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 fuck 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

 

[canis]

I went into Brazil thinking that I wasn't really bothered by which one of the two won the championship, they both deserved it and neither had had a car which made them the class of the field all season long. At the end of the race I think Vettel deserved it after the second corner incident, the team putting him on the wrong tyres and having to come in for a second stop very quickly, the radio failure which meant the mechanics had no idea he was coming in and what for, and the way he drove yesterday showed he could take the pressure and do what was needed when it was needed.

No offence to Alonso as he drove a great race and once again made sure he was there to pick up the points when everyone else tripped over themselves, but Vettel fought hard to make sure he was where he needed to be come the flag.

Was also good to see Alonso give Vettel a congratulatory (and looked very genuine) hug in the press paddock, good sportsmanship from the both of them.

 

[jez101]

But boy was he lucky not to suffer worse damage at T4. That was a mighty thump

My five year old son is a big Vettel fan and nearly cried when it happened. Having to explain every five minutes who would be world champion if the race finished now was quite difficult . He went to bed happy in the end, if thoroughly confused!

I think Vettel has been brilliant these last three years, and he deserves every title he has won, but boy was he lucky at T4 yesterday!

 

[Brogan]

It was actually two collisions.
First he drove into Senna and then when he was spun around, Senna drove over him.

Check out the compression on his right rear tyre...

If that had been a McLaren (Hamilton's), it would have probably disintegrated.

Image courtesy of Autosport.

 

[jez101]

Wow! Looks like Kobi was pretty lucky too!

 

[KekeTheKing]

it would have probably disintegrated.

Couldn't be more true!

People still slag Hamilton off for Monza 2010, and that was the very slightest of brushes when you compare it with this clanging and banging. It's just amazing how some guys can continually get away with things while others simply do not.

 

[Porceliamone]

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Thought this photo was cute so I had to post it here:

http://i.imgur.com/KWuqU.jpg?1

It's young Seb with well I don't need to tell you who!

 

[teabagyokel]

They look like they're about to get run over.

 

[Brogan]

I've moved the "illegal overtake" posts to the race thread, where it is already being discussed (and because it's to do with the race).

http://cliptheapex.com/threads/2012...practice-qualifying-and-race-discussion.5704/

 

[tooncheese]

Vettel was lucky with that incident as his hit is being absorbed by the low tyre pressue and the ground, Senna's is by the suspension which is soon moved out of its limits and broken.

However it has reinforced my belief about his wheel-to-wheel driving, he looked to brake early in T4 forcing Raikkonen off, then turns in early across Senna. I saw it in Abu Dhabi too where he overtakes without enough respect for his competitors.

 

[Boyle]

I saw it in Abu Dhabi too where he overtakes without enough respect for his competitors.

Like Ayrton Senna or Herr Schumacher then?

 

[tooncheese]

Boyle, spooky isn't it?

 

[GermanF1]

Bild Zeitung reports that Seb has extented his Red Bull contract until 2016. I know it's Bild but anyway...
http://www.bild.de/sport/motorsport...trag-bei-red-bull-bis-2016-27401766.bild.html

 

[vettelnolies]

And of course, 2013.

 

[ecclestoned]

After having celebrated 5 WDCships without once showing off his notorious finger ,Schumacher finally asks Vettel on the podium in Brasil in 2017 to take off his Michael Jackson glove , he's been driving with in the last 5 seasons:

 

[EvilWhippet]

0.O

Dude that's the second weirdest fucking thing I've ever seen.

 

[Bushi]

Hope he doesn't have a mask on right now:

 

[ExtremeNinja]

I'm about ready to see a picture of the winfinger again now. Where's FB when you need a winfinger. He's always there when you don't. All I have is a thumb.

 

[FB]

They have a special place all of their own ExtremeNinja

http://cliptheapex.com/threads/sebastian-vettels-finger.1684/

 

[ExtremeNinja]

I can't go there, FB. That is one step too far.