60 GP RACING MARCH 2020
and I think he’ll retire early – probably a blastin th e red car,then sayonara.”
About the redcar, anyway, Webber was on the mark. By August Vettel
had made arrangements to move to Maranello, for so long the province
of his idol, Michael Schumacher.
“I never understood Seb’s awful season, when Ricciardo arrived,” says
Martin Brundle. “He’d just won four championships, for God’s sake! He
kept on about how he hated the hybrid cars – butwhen he got to Ferrari he
was immediately on the pace, and I’ve alwayswondered if he went slowly
in 2014 because he needed to trigger his Red Bull exit clause. Whatever,
he had to leave, because another year like that with Danny Ricc, and his
value would have been nothing...”
Like every newFerra ri driver, Vettel began with the highest of hopes.
He won in Malaysia, his second race with the team, but only two more
victories followed in 2015, and it wasn’t long before he began to understand
the frustrations that had driven Fernando Alonso out. Five seasons have
produced only 14 wins, assuredly far short of what he expected.
It must be said, however, that there would have been more had Seb not
become prone to making mistakes under pressure, a trait far more evident
than in his earlier years. 0ostdisa strous of allwas understeering off the
road at Hockenheim in 2018, when leading his home grand prix, but
there have been many others, too.
“I think,” says Brundle, “thatVet tel’s judgement in wheel-to-wheelcombat
has gone,and tha t’s critical. He’s alwaysoperated ona pretty highly strung
level, but thesedays his default mood isto get angry, forevermoani ng abou t
backmarkers, and so on, and that’s sad. I remember when he’d turn up with
a rucksack,smiling, rea dy to go – Iadoredhim in those days.”
0e, too. I think of %arcelona in, when the%0: press oɤcer said to
me, “C ome and have breakfast tomorrow with mynew schoolboy...” Idid,
and was charmed. Sebastian, 19 but looking nearer 12,was the team’s
test driver,and if he wasthrilled to be on theverge of a Formula1 career,
so alsohe d elighted in tellingme o f his loveo f Bri tish c omedies likeMonty
Python and Fawlty Towers. Even more unexpected was his fascination with
motorsport history.
This is not yourtypical 21st century Formula 1 driver. Adeepl y private
man, hekeeps his professionaland family liveswell apar t, and – wisely,
in my opinion –doesn’twant to knowabout anyform of social media.
In recent years,though, Vettel’sdemeanour at therace trackhasindeed
changed. Although still genial much of thetime, quiteofte n he is sullenand
PICTURES
:HASANBRATIC
;MARKSUTTON
;SIMONGALL
OW
AY
Faced with the challenge posedby an ultra-
competitiveteam-mate in CharlesLeclerc,
Vettel’s demeanour at the track has changed
Mistakes, such as this crash intoVerstappen at
Silverstone, have become more frequent
60 GP RACING MARCH 2020
and I think he’ll retire early – probably a blastin th e red car,then sayonara.”
About the redcar, anyway, Webber was on the mark. By August Vettel
had made arrangements to move to Maranello, for so long the province
of his idol, Michael Schumacher.
“I never understood Seb’s awful season, when Ricciardo arrived,” says
Martin Brundle. “He’d just won four championships, for God’s sake! He
kept on about how he hated the hybrid cars – butwhen he got to Ferrari he
was immediately on the pace, and I’ve alwayswondered if he went slowly
in 2014 because he needed to trigger his Red Bull exit clause. Whatever,
he had to leave, because another year like that with Danny Ricc, and his
value would have been nothing...”
Like every newFerra ri driver, Vettel began with the highest of hopes.
He won in Malaysia, his second race with the team, but only two more
victories followed in 2015, and it wasn’t long before he began to understand
the frustrations that had driven Fernando Alonso out. Five seasons have
produced only 14 wins, assuredly far short of what he expected.
It must be said, however, that there would have been more had Seb not
become prone to making mistakes under pressure, a trait far more evident
than in his earlier years. Mostdisa strous of allwas understeering off the
road at Hockenheim in 2018, when leading his home grand prix, but
there have been many others, too.
“I think,” says Brundle, “thatVet tel’s judgement in wheel-to-wheelcombat
has gone,and tha t’s critical. He’s alwaysoperated ona pretty highly strung
level, but thesedays his default mood isto get angry, forevermoani ng abou t
backmarkers, and so on, and that’s sad. I remember when he’d turn up with
a rucksack,smiling, rea dy to go – Iadoredhim in those days.”
Me, too. I think of Barcelona in2007, when theBMW press officer said to
me, “C ome and have breakfast tomorrow with mynew schoolboy...” Idid,
and was charmed. Sebastian, 19 but looking nearer 12,was the team’s
test driver,and if he wasthrilled to be on theverge of a Formula1 career,
so alsohe d elighted in tellingme o f his loveo f Bri tish c omedies likeMonty
Python and Fawlty Towers. Even more unexpected was his fascination with
motorsport history.
This is not yourtypical 21st century Formula 1 driver. Adeepl y private
man, hekeeps his professionaland family liveswell apar t, and – wisely,
in my opinion –doesn’twant to knowabout anyform of social media.
In recent years,though, Vettel’sdemeanour at therace trackhasindeed
changed. Although still genial much of thetime, quiteofte n he is sullenand
PICTURES
:HASANBRATIC
;MARKSUTTON
;SIMONGALL
OW
AY
Faced with the challenge posedby an ultra-
competitiveteam-mate in CharlesLeclerc,
Vettel’s demeanour at the track has changed
Mistakes, such as this crash intoVerstappen at
Silverstone, have become more frequent
