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

 

[FB]

Vettel and some mates turned up at the Classic Bike show in Staffordshire at the weekend. Can you imagine standing in the queue thinking "I'm sure I know that bloke in front I'm just not sure where from".

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/new...ettel-visits-staffordshire-motorcycle-7971742

 

[teabagyokel]

FB - "...and there's Daniel Ricciardo about 4 places in front of him. Hey, Dan! Dan!"

 

[FB]

So, having assassinated the dress sense of Mr L Hamilton of Stevenage in another thread would you all you fashion gurus care to have a pop at Seb's attire.

 

[teabagyokel]

He's fooled us all and signed for McLaren!

 

[Road of Bones]

That would not surprise me in the slightest, teabagyokel ...

Oh, and he needs a tie - plus, it looks like his finger has unjammed.

 

[soccerman17]

I'm no expert but I think it looks quite nice Not as stylish as Diego Simeone though:

He has two outfits. The only thing different with the other one is that the shirt is white.

 

[teabagyokel]

soccerman17 - He has to change to clean the blood off, once in a while.

 

[cider_and_toast]

No ear rings or shit beard. A clear win.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Despite there being a championship decider today, still nothing annoys me more than watching Vettel use every bit of Tarmac that is not the racetrack to find the fastest way round.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Yeah, but his time at Red Bull ended with a whimper not a bang. How quickly we forget a four time world champion.

He's off to Ferrari to try and re-create the legacy of another succesful German driver. Will he have the ability to shoulder that burden which is about more than driving a car?

Will Ferrari be able to find the same ingrediants that made the Schumacher years all powerful?

I think he's taking the sort of risk that makes or breaks a driver. What ever happens it will be fun to watch !!!

 

[Il_leone]

Well Vettel and Ricciardo both started in the pitlane and Ricciardo trounced him again

Seb's in for a serious test at Ferrari. I'll be surprised if they've sorted the mess they've got themselves in- the key will be James Allinson if he has been given the technical freedom with the car design without being bootstrapped by the the politics

 

[Olivier]

Vettel has arrived. Welcome Sebastian. He holds the key to Ferrari recovery.

Now I just need to go eat a hat and I'll be back ...

 

[Mephistopheles]

I do hope that red suits him.

 

[Dash Racing]

So, having assassinated the dress sense of Mr L Hamilton of Stevenage in another thread would you all you fashion gurus care to have a pop at Seb's attire.

Very dapper. Properly fitted, understated. Nice semi-formal look. Fashion-wise, I would prefer he unbutton one more button on the shirt if he's not going to wear a tie, that way he can work the 'just got off work' look. He dresses well, when he chooses to.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I think he looks spiffing....

 

[FB]

Here's Seb's first run in a Ferrari. Not the most exciting video but quite significant.

 

[Jen]

I suspect that Seb won't do as well as Nando in a crap Ferarri; so let's hope Ferarri provide a much better car than they have recently.

 

[Bill Boddy]

What a shame that they didn't get rid of Raikonnen and sign Vergne instead. It might have made an interesting combination.

 

[sushifiesta]

Some more pictures:
http://imgur.com/a/Kh75z

Seems a bit pointless to have him driving around in an irrelevant car to me. I guess there's steering wheel layout, seat position etc. that they can work through but you'd think they could do most of that in a stationary car.

On a different note, it's not as bizarre as I was expecting seeing him in a red suit but he does look different somehow, maybe younger.

 

[cider_and_toast]

for some reason I think it's actually a little bit cool. A fresh start, a massive challenge, cometh the hour cometh the man. Leaving the warm enviroment of "his" team and going to take on Ferrari with all that legacy, that's a massive risk even if the rewards are as great.