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

 

[Titch]

Apparently not Bushi.

 

[downforce]

Vettel is going to break all of Schumachers records, he won't be forgotten like piquet.

 

[Andrea_Moda_Rules]

Speshal

Oh come on, that is never Vettels car. 36bhp and the aerodynamics of a swinging brick. Its obviously to slow Webber down. They're just hoping Webber gets distracted by finally being "Number 1" and doesn't kick up a fuss again

 

[ExtremeNinja]

An interesting point was made about Vettel to me today, in a discussion where he was even likened to King Joffrey of Game of Thrones. You won't all get that reference but it's pretty harsh.. The point was that, not only will he have alienated himself to his teammates, but also to future teammates. Which top-flight driver would want to race alongside him after his recent actions? This makes him a difficult choice for any team that wants two of the best in their driving seats. Would current drivers at other teams reject him as a teammate and would his current team or a future team find it difficult to attract a top-flight driver to race next to Vettel, even on the promise of equal treatment?

 

[Hamberg]

I think drivers that want a fair crack and know he's better would worry, but those who know/believe they are as good or better (Raikkonen, Hamilton) are unlikely to care who their team mate is.

I've left Alonso out for obvious reasons despite being one of the best.

 

[Jen]

Consensus has it that there are three (including Vettel) who rank higher than the rest of the field and, I believe, both of the others have 'committed the same sin' at some point.

They all know what they are up against and may have the presence of mind to get in there first!

 

[Boyle]

I have it. Marko is part of Vettel's Helmut collection!

 

[The Pits]

http://instantrimshot.com/index.php?sound=rimshot&play=true

 

[no-FIAt-please]

Cracked under the pressure today. Should have had Hamilton in the DRS zone...

 

[sushifiesta]

I've been starting to think this for some time now but frankly I believe the time has really come now where you have no choice but to place Vettel in the same category as Alonso and Hamilton. Maybe there will always be a slight question mark over Vettel's head unless we see him battle like Alonso and Hamilton did in 2007, but frankly his performances over the last season or so have ticked all the boxes.

We've seen the killer instinct come out this year too. Both in Malaysia and in races like today where he was aggressive and made moves stick in the first few laps which won him the race in my opinion.

 

[no-FIAt-please]

Very true sushifiesta. However he is still missing one thing, the 'ace' team-mate comparison. Hamilton and Alonso had each other in 2007, Hamilton also had Button afterwards who although isn't in the 'trio' is still an 'ace'. (Current 'aces' IMO are Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen, Button and I can see Rosberg perhaps...)

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Raikonnen is going to give him a run for his money next year. Thankfully under new regulations, too, which will negate Seb's home advantage somewhat. Mouthwatering!

 

[sushifiesta]

Yes I agree, but until we can say otherwise I think we have to put him in the same arena as those two. He has just achieved too much not to.

EDIT: I agree with no-FIAt-please . I would agree with ExtremeNinja too but I'll be very surprised if Kimi goes to Red Bull as Vettel's teammate.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

If Vettel were to veto the move then that would do even less for his reputation. Raikonnen is now very strongly tipped for the move. I would like to see him go there as a double world champion, too. Let's just hope, for now.

 

[Josh]

Why? Alonso doesn't want a team-mate that can beat him and the only time he was in a team with someone equal to him (2007) he got beaten, yet he is still seen as a great driver...

 

[no-FIAt-please]

Josh It wouldn't look good to show he's afraid to go toe-to-toe with any driver. This did hurt Alonso's reputation, but some plucky drives in bad machinery and time has healed that.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Josh. What no-FIAt-please says.

Sebastian has matured as a racing driver during his time in F1 and he has to be rated as one of the best. His racecraft is a hell of a lot better than it used to be which was always my big question mark over him. The only question I have now is how he measures up against the other World Champions on the grid. I honestly don't think that he is the best of them but I may be completely wrong. The thing is, we just don't know and we won't unless we see him go head to head with at least one of them in the same team.

Last year I think Kimi, Lewis and Fernando all raced better than Seb, even if the championship standings, which are largely influenced by the quality and performance of your crew and your equipment, don't reflect as such.

 

[Josh]

Fair enough. On the other hand, he'd just be making sure he has the biggest opportunity to win if he doesn't have a competitive team-mate. That's not to say I wouldn't like seeing him go up against Kimi though

 

[ExtremeNinja]

For him it depends how he wants to be remembered. The guy that ran away with a bunch of championships in the best car with second rate teammate or the guy who wasn't afraid to take up any challenge.

Of course, he may not care how he is remembered at all. He might just like counting his trophies.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I'm starting to think that Vettel is completely unbeatable love him or hate him he keeps delivering the goods it may not be good for F1 but unfortunately nobody seems to be able to touch him....