Why is it that Sebastian Vettel seems unable to command the
universal respect that should rightly be accorded a driver who
has achieved so much so soon? He holds the records for being the
youngest ever pole sitter, point scorer, race winner, world
champion, double world champion, triple world champion - all of
this in just 101 races, 26 of which he has won. Yet there is a
substantial body of fact-ignoring opinion that still refuses to
recognise him as a genuine F1 superstar.
Maybe the affable German youngster has made it all look too
simple. Perhaps his easy-going attitude prevents him from being
taken as seriously as a hard-nosed character with an edgy
personality. Possibly Vettel's age works against him, as if his
youthfulness somehow diminishes the records that might be more
celebrated if they were set after many seasons of struggle by a
more mature veteran. Some critics insist Fernando Alonso, whose
Ferrari was never the fastest car, deserved the 2012 championship
more than Vettel, who throughout his career has benefitted from
having a quick car, thanks to Red Bull Racing's design genius,
Adrian Newey.
Yes, there was an element of luck in Vettel's last-minute 2010
title triumph over several worthy contenders. Yes, he took full
advantage of having the best car in his 2011 title defense, which
amounted to a season-long victory parade featuring 11 wins and a
record 15 poles in 19 races. But in 2012 his third successive
title was hard-earned through a series of personal comebacks from
setbacks against the strongest opposition, that included five
other world champions.
The record books now confirm that the precocious, prodigiously-
talented Vettel has truly come of age as one of the sport's great
drivers. His total of three championships rank him equal with
such illustrious names as Brabham, Stewart, Lauda, Piquet and
Senna. His trio of driving titles in as many years place him in
the select company of Fangio and Schumacher, who were aged 46
and 36, respectively, when their three-in-a-row records were set.
Sebastian Vettel, not yet 26, has plenty of time to climb to the
lofty heights achieved by the two most successful F1 drivers of
all time.
Sebastian Vettel's place in the Hall Of Fame...
http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/822/
I'm not a fan of Sebastian Vettel as a person nor do I support RB. There is no question that RB has been most dominant in the last three years. Ferrari have been half asleep on the design front and Maclaren have just not managed to hook it up!.
ReplyDeleteThe championship was hotly contested in 2010 and 2012 has been one of the best and hardest fought seasons ever. Both a far cry from Ferrari domination of the noughties.
Consider that Seb has won two championships where in 2010 he won from behind, and in 2012 he was well behind during certain stages of the year, all this despite:
-being against arguably the strongest field yet seen in the game at one time(Alonso, Kimi, Hamilton, Massa, Button in that order);
-the cars being so evenly matched at the top end;
- Seb not being in the fastest car of 2012(that accolade would probably go to Maclaren, although, I stand to be corrected)
- there being no serious controversy (besides a funny looking overtake, a bit of obstruction during one of the qualifications, and some inappropriate language on the podiums)
Look at Senna and Schumi's conduct, smashing Prost and Hill off respectively to win the drivers championships. Seb has no such blemishes on his career.
Yes the poor kid can be a bit annoying with his finger and celebrates every championship point as though he just won his first GP ever.
But there is no doubt that he is probably the greatest most technically perfect driver Formula One has ever seen, only to be out done by perhaps, Alonso.
Would Senna have won in the Ferrari, maybe, but he would have ended up with a lot more controversy surrounding his win, which in my opinion spoils the game.
We don't want to see contact, we want to see wheel to wheel, holding our breath from corner to corner, and breathing out at the end saying "HOLY **** I COULD NEVER DO THAT!".
We are seeing the greatest drivers in history going head to head and we are just not realizing it.
Sebastian Vettel is one of the best if not the best driver in history. So is Alonso, and I can't wait for Ferrari to give him a car.