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

 

[teabagyokel]

KekeTheKing - If he could do it without Schumi's nearly moments, well...

He'll get to P2, though, surely.

 

[LifeW12]

another 10 years of snooze fests, oh lord

 

[Mephistopheles]

Now all we need is an Item of his clothing and a hair follicle and we're all set.

 

[Boyle]

Is there any such thing as a voodoo car rather than a doll?

 

[teabagyokel]

Boyle - Yeah, there's a Felipe Massa one at Maranello, for when he gets in front of Alonso...

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

I always thought that Horner heel tapping was on a pressure pad to "disable car #2 KERS" ...

Also guessing that you might be able to find the well used Hamilton voodoo doll that Button was playing with the last few years on Ebay soon ....

 

[Boyle]

teabagyokel - I suppose Christian Horner actually has a Red Bull one, too bad it's for Webber!

 

[Boyle]

Snap Zak!

 

[downforce]

It occurs to me that Vettels a bit like Novak Djokovic, both of them dominated 2011. Neither have yet dominated to the same intensity of 2011 since but they are both still number 1.

 

[mjo]

Someone's been busy over the summer...

 

[teabagyokel]

I hope he doesn't decide to change his hair as often as he changes his helmet!

 

[mjo]

Well anything's better than his current barnet.

 

[Blog Zbod]

Conclusions from the Belgian GP

"...Sebastian Vettel is an enigma easily solved: he's simply far better than the cynics and critics have hitherto accepted. Those in denial face a difficult few weeks and months - and perhaps even years because at his current rate of progress, Vettel will leave F1 as the most successful driver in the sport's history and the most willfully under-rated...."

 

[Jen]

Maybe!

 

[Mephistopheles]

He's a very lovely young man...

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

"...Sebastian Vettel is an enigma easily solved: he's simply far better than the cynics and critics have hitherto accepted. Those in denial face a difficult few weeks and months - and perhaps even years because at his current rate of progress, Vettel will leave F1 as the most successful driver in the sport's history and the most willfully under-rated...."

This is 2011 all over again but for a few subtle differences... and one of those wont be the points differential to second place in the WDC at the end of the season ...

 

[teabagyokel]

The Red Bull isn't as good as it was in 2011 - and it has had not had pole sewn up every weekend automatically.

He is truly exceptional. It seems like every time a 50/50 chance of Vettel winning arises, Vettel wins. Is he slightly boring? Not when he gets into a fight. All credit to him, it scarcely happens.

 

[Mephistopheles]

He's won me over, but I still don't like his finger, or his silly screeching voice when he wins, it's almost as bad as Jensons singing.....

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

The RBR wasn't as good for the first half of the season... but now with 2012 Pirelli's ... I think it doesn't matter ...

The competition have not been good enough ... Merc stepped forward ... Ferrari are behind where they were comparatively in previous seasons and McLaren .....

 

[Galahad]

His first lap was stunning yet again at Spa. He makes the rest look as though they aren't trying.

Although quite why the Mercedes takes a massive step down in performance in the races from lap one, i.e. irrespective of tyre deg, is another question.