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

 

[cider_and_toast]

This may sound a bit over the top but Vettels actions today could of cost him the world title. You only have to look at Webbers motivation after the Silverstone front wing incident.

In all likelyhood this is Webbers last year at RBR, he has nothing to gain by being a team player and now he has every motivation to do sod all to support Vettel should the team need him to.

What really made me want to puke was Vettel trying to convince everyone in his post race interviews that it was all a mistake. Yes he heard the team order, yes he understood it but he accidently overtook Webber by mistake.

Even more interesting was the fact that Newey seemed absolutely furious about it but as always Horner was his usual self. Even more hilarious was the look on Markos face as he tried to brush off Webbers criticism.

 

[RasputinLives]

I still think if it had been Massa on Alonso a lot of people would have come down on a different side but at the end of the day Seb doesn't give a monkeys.

This 'honest' racer stuff is nonsense anyway. Name me a champion and I'll name you an incident which will be deemed as not 'honest' racing

 

[FB]

He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!

 

[Dizzi]

FB DC treats him as a Messiah....terrible having to watch him fawn over Vettel on the BBC. Won't hear a word against his hero, even making the excuse Seb's only 25 so must be forgiven a few 'mistakes' so long as he apologises afterwards. Excuse me but bollocks, he's a 3 times world champion & knows exactly what he's doing. If Seb really doesn't understand what he's doing on the track is he competent to hold a superlicence? Of course he is because he knows exactly what he's doing & is as ruthless & uncaring on track as every other multiple world champion.

 

[RasputinLives]

Which is why they are multiple champions.

DC was a good honest racer who obeyed team orders. Didn't do him any favors.

 

[Jen]

I don't like team orders. I would much rather see a one driver team than see a perfectly able driver demoted to number 2 for the sake of the team and their team-mate. However, we are stuck with this abomination for the foreseeable future and, as such, must accept that at some point team orders will be invoked - one would hope that this would only happen when there is a significant difference in driver point tallies though.

So a degree of pragmatism is required if one is to continue to enjoy the sport.

In my ideal world, all drivers would race for themselves and there would be no 'interference' from the team - unfortunately, the team is more interested in the WCC than the WDC and if they can bag both, so much the better.

All drivers want to be allowed to race and to have the chance to win - that is the nature of the beast - the ones that succeed in their quest aren't always the best team players or 'nice' when behind the wheel.

With that in mind, I can understand what Seb did and why he did it. However, I didn't like it. He is part of a team whether he likes it or not and must rely on the benevolence of all other team members - so, I think, he has probably made this season much, much harder for himself than he need have.

For the record, I am not a Vettel fan and although I have worked in and led teams over the years, it is not a 'natural' state for me.

 

[Titch]

I have tried to keep an open mind about Vettel, but I'm afraid he does strike me as a rather spoilt kid, this race has done nothing to make me change my mind.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

 

[downforce]

lols

 

[Boyle]

And who says Germans don't have a sense of humour!

 

[Albies Dog]

 

[Titch]

I do like that Albies Dog

 

[Albies Dog]

Not that I'm his greatest admirer but he can drive with the best of them and does pull off some exceptional moves (not withstanding Malaysia!!), however his instant tantie syndrome he suffers from the moment he perceives he is hard done by is also remarkable.

I laughed a LOT in Brasil last year when he went flying up behind the Torro Rosso under yellows, almost crashed and then cried over the radio for the world to hear.

All part of the show and to have a schummi replacement in the love/hate stakes is always good for business!

 

[EvilWhippet]

Nationality, haircut, shoesize?.

Ignore my previous posting about not disliking Vettel. His current haircut is proof beyond doubt he is an utter reprobate and makes me resent him as a human being.

 

[Fenderman]

 

[tonyw151]

Will Seb be remembered like Piquet? A multi champ forgotten amongst the greats?

 

[Fenderman]

... not forgotten just in the same way invoked as a precedent when required and similarly reviled"

* by those who like to invoke and revile things

 

[Speshal]

Red Bull unveil Vettel's car for China.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

And you didn't even credit the source. Tut tut!

http://cliptheapex.com/threads/red-bull-racing.3373/page-22#post-189062

 

[Bushi]

I have tried to keep an open mind about Vettel, but I'm afraid he does strike me as a rather spoilt kid, this race has done nothing to make me change my mind.

It was said that his former personal trainer Tommi Parmakoski kept his feet on the ground, maybe the new one doesn't do that?