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

 

[ExtremeNinja]

He has won 2 of 4 races this year and so has been touched twice this season. He is definitely not unbeatable but he and Red Bull are certainly the toughest to beat at the moment.

 

[jez101]

Keep up people! I've been saying he was as good as the others since 2009/10.

I can't remember the smug :code: so will have to go with this

Edit: see for example http://cliptheapex.com/threads/20-best-drivers-a-survey.3134/page-2#post-61960

 

[ExtremeNinja]

I don't think he was as good then as he is now by a long long long way. You can keep your smug smiley.

 

[Olivier]

Watching Vettel crush their opponents made me realize it's a little bit like seeing Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader ...

 

[Mephistopheles]

He was every bit as good in 2009 as he is now and it still remains a fact that Jenson it the only driver ever to beat him thus far in F1 since he moved up to RedBull and Jenson was the only driver to challenge him in 2011.

But we all know that Jenson isn't a top quality driver nowhere near as good as the fabled never to be mentioned top three. so how can this be? I'm at at a loss to explain it...

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Watching Vettel crush their opponents made me realize it's a little bit like seeing Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader ...

Are you saying that eventually that Vettel will one day become Lauda?

http://cliptheapex.com/threads/f1-lookalikes.44/page-7#post-195272

 

[F1ang-o]

After Seb's win at Bahrain...Christian Horner said "SV understands the complexity of the tyres" ...... he's visited Pirelli factory.

http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/106543.html
Yesterday he was the first F1 driver on the Sochi track..... Russian GP 2014
'Every little helps'......

 

[Slyboogy]

Red Bull seem to send their drivers or cars to a new track, what's that about?

First it was Korea, then India, Austin, New Jersey and now Sochi.

 

[Bill Boddy]

They are all countries where Red Bull feel that the publicity will improve their sales?

 

[FB]

The racing team is an extension of Red Bull's marketing so why not? If the other teams aren't bright enough to take advantage of these opportunities more fool them.

 

[FB]

 

[Il_leone]

the last F1 magazine had him one half and Darth Vader the other half to show his turning to the Dark Side !

 

[Slyboogy]

I have to say, that piece in the magazine was a lot of pish.

Infact, that months issue was pish compared to it's usual standards, guess we are allowed one rubbish issue once in a while since it's consistenly good.

 

[Olivier]

In recent declarations, Vettel states that he may only stick around for 5 more years and then he'll retire. So why 5 years?

It's quite simple and it's all math related: 3+5 = 8; 8>7

 

[RasputinLives]

Actually if ypu read the article he doesn't say he might retire in 5 years he says he doesn't know where he'll be orvwhat he'll be doing and that for all he knows he'll have lost his passion for the sport and not be in it anymore but that doesn't make such a good headline.

 

[Brogan]

What will be interesting for me is to see how he deals with not winning every year - if that ever happens

On current form, that doesn't look too likely...

 

[Il_leone]

Vettel if you look at his career he's had success quite early and the only route from there is down

Things can change quickly in F1 but the only other team he would join is Ferrari perhaps Mercedes

- You'd think he would want a bumper salary to drive elsewhere as well

Whilst 7 world titles Schumacher holds is under threat I don;t think he can seriously challenge 91 wins if he is only given himself 5 years to do it

 

[RasputinLives]

Vettel if you look at his career he's had success quite early and the only route from there is down

I remember someone saying the exact same thing to me about Schumacher in 95.

 

[RasputinLives]

and 2001

 

[RasputinLives]

and 2003