The brink of making history is a pretty daunting place to be stood, so spare a thought for Sebastian Vettel this weekend. The current world champion is the only man to finish every race so far this season, and all but one of them on the podium. He’s currently running at a staggering 77% pole position hit rate and, if all goes according to plan, will become Formula One’s seventh double world champion – and its youngest ever – by Sunday evening. That’s a pretty big thing to stick on your CV. But before we bicker over whether the young lad’s got the plums to do it or not, what exactly is it he needs to do?
Well, to make things as easy as possible, he obviously needs to win the race. Vettel is currently leading the championship by 112 points from Fernando Alonso, and with 25 points awarded for a race win and six races left to go, that leaves a potential 150 up for grabs. So – basically – if Seb takes the chequered flag on Sunday and Alonso isn’t on the podium, he’ll be world champion, providing Mark Webber and Jenson Button finish lower than second. So, realistically, Vettel’s best bet of quaffing a magnum of Mumm is to hope that Lewis Hamilton has a good race and follows him home.
The team is certainly confident he can do it, with news emerging earlier this week that Red Bull has booked a top secret celebration venue somewhere in Singapore to toast their finger-wagging hero. Realistically, though, chances are Christian Horner and his men will have to hold fire on those corks until the Japanese Grand Prix in a fortnight’s time. Why, you ask? Well, in the three years that the race has been held at the Marina Bay street circuit, Alonso has won twice. Then there’s Jenson Button – McLaren’s new number one driver has been on fire in the second half of the season (racking up 58 points in the last three races compared to Lewis Hamilton’s 24), so if anyone’s likely to keep Vettel off the top step of the podium, the thinking man’s money would be on him.
As ever, the man of the moment is playing it cool, telling a German newspaper: ‘I think it’s wrong to plan before something happens. First you have to win the lottery and then you worry about what to do with the winnings.’ And with Red Bull reportedly handing Vettel a €3million (A$5 million) bonus for winning the title last year, that analogy probably isn’t as far off as it sounds.
Here’s a vid of Our Mark doing a lap of the track last year;
Vettel fully deserves to win the drivers’ title. I’m sure Webber will try his best to support him.
Vettel is the currently the fastest driver in the fastest car. He does deserve the title. Unfortunately for Webber, Vettel has grown up and matured into a really, really good racer. Sad to say, but I have little hope for Webber getting a World Championship.
In other news, Ricciardo has to keep on top of his teammate to pave a path into a Toro Rosso seat next year – presumably Beumi’s seat as his form has dropped. Ricciardo beat Luizzi in FP2; fingers crossed he holds form.
I agree with both off you Vettel has had a great year and deserves the Title.
I rember watching an interview with the Red bull team owner he said Toro Roso are both doing well and Riccardo probly won’t get a drive there, i think he will get offered a spot at HRT though.
I think Riccardo will get his turn at Scuderia Torro Rosso when Webber steps down from Red Bull. Presumably one of the current STR drivers will take Webber’s place leaving a spot open for Daniel Riccardo.
I have been a big Red Bull Racing fan from the early days with DC but I was always a supporter of Vettel after his win at Monza 2008. He has been my favorite ever since he joined RBR so I’m obviously a happy chap. I do rrally hope Webber can slot home a few more GP wins before he retires.
After qualifying last night “seb the finger” gave some very mature answers.
He knows the wheels can still come off!!
Mark is in his last few years but i dont think rb will want him to go till 2014,they dont have another no2 anywhere near mw.
Ricardo is doing well but is still years away from Marks level”if he gets there”
Why is top gear au cancled? Im an american (not proud) and sad that I cant watch a great version of the best car show ever.
As much as I dislike the fastest twerp on the planet – he truly deserves the title this year. We’re unlikely to see a performance quite so dominant for quite some time. As for Mark, I hope he can continue to push to top runners for a few more years (otherwise I’ll look like a Vettel supporter with my Red Bull Racing Back-Pack that I use for my work bag)……
Dont say that Mr Why, we have copied America for so long that we are now more American then Americans. Id like to see the USTG on ch 9.
Scince this blog is popular let me ask what happend to Corbz he hasn’t made a blog scince July. There seems to be a problem over on his end so if the top gear staff could go check to see if he’s ok that would be much appriciated thanks.
er i think there was a rather smug answer to that here last night!
think corbysun is gone too!!!
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