Sebastian Vettel

[grober]

So---- Sebastian Vettel----- World Champion for the fourth time in succession. and joins such illuminati as Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher. If he wins the remaining three races in Abu Dhabi, the United States and Brazil he will equal the record for consecutive wins in the F1 world championship, set by Italian Alberto Ascari in 1952-53.

While undoubtedly a great talent how much of the success of any of these guys hinged on having the best car around at the time?

 

[willplaice]

very true - but mr Webber has the same car, and it breaks - so you need to be lucky too.

 

[John Jones Jr]

It's difficult not to take the view that the best drivers get the best cars.

 

[Major774]

Still job well done... Mark had the same car but failed.

 

[grober]

Still job well done... Mark had the same car but failed.

Agreed --- probably means he was a better [or luckier] driver than Webber but doesn't necessarily tell you if he was better than say Alonso, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Hamilton, Grosjean etc.

 

[artyman]

Until you get drivers in the same car with the same reliability, it is difficult to categorically state who is the best, but he is undoubtedly a superb driver, but there are a number of drivers in F1 at the moment who are in the same league, Alonso, Raiki and Hamilton plus others.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I simply think it's the case that German 'sportsmen' aren't very endearing.

They don't have much humility about themselves which is probably the most important trait you need at the top level to be revered.

Contrary to his speech yesterday , I doubt very much that Vettel gives a **** about what people think of him to be honest.

 

[brucemillar]

Vettel is an undoubted talent both in and out of the car. he manages to do what many fail to do and that is handle all aspects of the sport and with some class.

The best car? Maybe the best driver getting best out of his team from the factory, to the engineers, to the Adrian Newey. As others have said, Webber in the same car has not managed to achieve the same level of success. I accept that in Red Bull then Vettel is clearly No1 so will have the advantage on choice of bits. But that does not give him choice over his luck.

Schumacher commented that the grid should be made to swap cars for each race. That would be a leveler. What most forget is that from 1st to 21st on that grid it is separated by a second. So with these margins I think he is 100% worthy of his success. It has come without many of the flaws of his predecessors. Shame on those who boo on him on the podium. Something that has clearly upset him. Why boo him because he is achieving what most of us would love to get anywhere near to.

 

[grober]

According to a German motoring journo on the radio today he is more popular in Germany now than Schumacher was at the height of his career. One of his endearing qualities off the track with his fans is evidently his sense of humour. I guess its a German thing!

 

[John Jones Jr]

I would find it difficult to take anything away from Vettel or just as importantly his team, after all it is a team sport.
At the end of the day it all about winning, nothing else and that's what he did, no less than four years on the trot. To question his talent/professionalism/intelligence is not for mere mortal's like myself anyway, so there's no question in my mind he is the best of the current crop. And what his nationality has got to do with anything is beyond me, after all it's a world sport.

 

[Dryce]

While undoubtedly a great talent how much of the success of any of these guys hinged on having the best car around at the time?

I think SV lucked into his first two championships to some degree. He was a fast driver then but not as well rounded. Last year I think he was better and this year at times sublime.

Next year if the Red Bull isn't as good relative to the rest of the field he's one of the drivers capable of making up the deficit and keeping himself in as a contender.

To my mind that puts him on the same pinnacle as FA and KR.

 

[bolide]

I like the way Vettel did doughnuts in front of the grandstand after the race. If it's the last Grand Prix at Buddh I think it was an appropriate gesture for the Indian fans

Nick Froome

 

[grober]

And what his nationality has got to do with anything is beyond me, after all it's a world sport.

His nationality has nothing to do with it except to perhaps explain both he and his predecessor Michael Schumacher's lack of popularity in the UK. The German's just seem to be more at home with success than we do. This may often come across as arrogance or ruthless winning at all costs to British sensibilities that's all. Maybe I'm cynical but I get the impression that sometimes he gets a radio message from the Red Bull PR people ---- OK --- Seb it's time to press the Gratitude and Humility button now.

 

[flango]

very true - but mr Webber has the same car, and it breaks - so you need to be lucky too.

Mr Weber breaks his car because of his driving style Mr Vettel doesn't, same was true of Button over Hamilton when they were both at Mclaren

 

[Dryce]

His nationality has nothing to do with it except to perhaps explain both he and his predecessor Michael Schumacher's lack of popularity in the UK. The German's just seem to be more at home with success than we do.

MS was tainted to by his collision with Hill in 94.

And then this was confirmed with his attempt on Villeneuve in 97.

And the public also get bored with long sequences of easy looking victories. F1 audiences worldwide will be impacted by SV's sequence of wins unless he is seen to visibly have to fight harder on the track.

 

[DSM10000]

Mr Weber breaks his car because of his driving style Mr Vettel doesn't, same was true of Button over Hamilton when they were both at Mclaren

I am sure that a driver contributes a great deal to mechanical wear and tear, how would he influnece the alternator? I did not know that they had much input to the electrical system other than operating KERS?

 

[baxlin]

A few years ago I was at Silverstone for the Friday Practice, and was stood in the crowd near the paddock entrance. All the drivers etc had to pass through a bit of a bottleneck in the path, right past us. A great place for the autograph hunters to stand.

I must say that Vettel and Adrian Newey were the two who spent the most time obliging the fans - unlike FA, KR and LH, none of whom stopped at all, just walked past.

 

[flango]

I am sure that a driver contributes a great deal to mechanical wear and tear, how would he influnece the alternator? I did not know that they had much input to the electrical system other than operating KERS?

They have a massive input into the electrical system of the car, rough driving, going against race engineers advice based on what they are seeing on telemetry even the lateral G on braking and turn in to the corners affects the electrical systems. Most F1 failures are down to the car being rough handled by the driver or ignoring race engineers advice. A selfish racer wants to win and thats the only objective, a racer who is a team player considers all the options and listens to advice and plays the team game even if that means looking after the car and dropping positions.

 

[martyz]

Never heard of anyone wrecking an alternator by driving a car roughly,all good competitive race drivers are focused and one minded (selfish) all the ingredients a winner needs,as for listening to advice.....well not many do ask Seb,Kimi,Fernando,Lewis,the losers may as it saves face when a good result is not on the cards.

 

[whitenemesis]

Which driver was it that was told to lay off the drinks bottle? Apparently it was stressing the electrics..