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]

Kovalainen.

Spa, Interlagos and Abu Dhabi 2012 were title winning drives from the back of the field - not race winners, but title winners.

How many wins have there actually been like that in the last 10 years? I can't think of many.

 

[sushifiesta]

Vettel has had many great drives from the front, and enough great drives through the field to show he can do that too (Abu Dhabi 2012 is another example). He is a great driver there's no question, you can't deny that after he's won 4 championships. I'd make him the best front runner on the grid. In terms of racecraft and overtaking I think Hamilton and Alonso are better, but what I'm trying to say is that we haven't had enough opportunities to see Vettel battling it out for wins in close combat to know for sure how he compares.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Vettel seems to be able to eke out that win seemingly from thin air as soon as he gets the sniff of victory. It seems to be like a switch - if he knows he can't he won't, but if he thinks he can (and he is very astute at figuring that) then he does amazing things.

 

[Mephistopheles]

in Spain last year he went from starting in the pit lane to 4th in a car that was not the best in the field

And he had a great race at Silverstone last year as I recall battling with Alonso that was epic...

 

[Titch]

I think he's doing a lot to prove just how good a driver he can be.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Titch he is already a great driver, there is no can be about it..

 

[Titch]

When he feels like it then!

 

[teabagyokel]

Happy 28th, Seb:

 

[Olivier]

Hamilton so close to Schumacher!

 

[Mephistopheles]

I think he is a really nice young German..

 

[Mephistopheles]

Hamilton so close to Schumacher!

He's got the key to the gate he'll never be 28, to late..

 

[teabagyokel]

Olivier - Just think how many wins Schumi had post-1997, when he was 28. There's still time, given the right equipment, for either LH or SV to top 91.

 

[Brogan]

Not without specially produced tyres, a private test track and unlimited budget and testing times, favouritism from the FIA and FOM, and a secret veto on other teams' technical innovations there isn't

 

[teabagyokel]

Depends if you're a currently dominant team using a Strategy Group to homologate the other teams into non-development.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Not without specially produced tyres, a private test track and unlimited budget and testing times, favouritism from the FIA and FOM, and a secret veto on other teams' technical innovations there isn't

Yeah, but despite all of that, what have the Romans ever done for us, eh?

 

[Olivier]

First win with Ferrari for Vettel. Hopefully not the last one this season!

 

[teabagyokel]

Second win with Ferrari, after Malaysia .
Vettel actually stands as the only driver to win a race with a Ferrari engine not in a Ferrari, which was with STR-Ferrari at Monza in 2008. So maybe it is his third!

 

[teabagyokel]

The obvious comparison:

 

[Olivier]

Second win with Ferrari, after Malaysia .
Vettel actually stands as the only driver to win a race with a Ferrari engine not in a Ferrari, which was with STR-Ferrari at Monza in 2008. So maybe it is his third!

Is that so ? Somebody hasnt't been paying attention to F1 this season ...

 

[F1Brits_90]

I know realistically this might sound ludicrous & bookies seem to agree as 20/1 in 3 horse race is pretty bad especially with Lewis & nico 1/5 & 4/1 respectively but could vettel win his 5th world title this season because I was thinking post race that all that domination vettel only 42pts behind which is a lot closer than I thought as 1 dnf its 17pts just ask Lewis before ricciardo ruined rosbergs race how precarious 17pts lead can be