A driver with an abundance of talent, and a driver’s instinct and competitiveness similar to a certain seven-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel can produce stella Grand Prix performances when everything is going his way. However, there is another side to his driving that lead to some, including ex-Formula 1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle, yet to be convinced of his overtaking skills in pressured circumstances.
In changeable conditions at the Belgian Grand Prix, Vettel could have conceivably won today’s race had he past title rival and McLaren driver Jenson Button despite Lewis Hamilton’s pace, who led from the first corner to the finish. Starting fourth, Vettel slipped his way past Renault’s Robert Kubica on Lap 4 at the La Source hairpin. And with Button struggling after sustaining damage to his front wing during the early laps, Vettel decided to pounce on Lap 17.
After coming out of the 180mph Blanchimont bend right behind Button’s gearbox in slippery conditions with both on slick tyres, Vettel aggressively moved out of his slipstream attempting to pass around the outside at the Bus Stop chicane, instead losing control and speared straight into the sidepod of the defending world champion’s McLaren.
The incident retired Button, but Vettel managed to crawl into the pits. That set the tone for a miserable race for the German. He was awarded a drive-through penalty for his actions, while two further incidents followed – a puncture after overtaking Vitantonio Liuzzi at the same corner, and almost colliding with Fernando Alonso in the pitlane for a change to wet weather tyres, although no punishment was given. Vettel went on to finish the race 15th.
This has not been the first time that his ragged overtaking manoeuvres have managed to deceive him. He still has a lot to learn if he is to create a legacy anywhere to the standard of compatriot Michael Schumacher. In Turkey back in May, Vettel rammed into his teammate Mark Webber in a disastrous attempted pass for the lead. The Red Bulls were holding off the McLaren duo of Hamilton and Button at that time, so it was a shock to see Webber and Vettel tangle. What confused fans, viewers and media analysts even further was Red Bull’s insistence that Webber was to blame for the cause of the accident.
His naivety has also been called into question. During the race in Hungary earlier this month, Vettel admitted he “fell asleep” when he was distanced by Mark Webber during a safety car period, and consequently incurring a penalty that cost him the chance of victory.
In 2009, Vettel’s lack of race craft in his driving came to the fore. For example, in Brazil, last season’s penultimate race, he failed to capitalise on his then arch-rival Button’s uncompetitive Brawn in qualifying by recording 16th position. A string of reliability problems also did not help his cause, but nonetheless a championship he should have won, especially when Brawn suffered a lack of raw pace at the back end of the season.
His moments of seemingly avoidable incidents often do overshadow his true abilities at the wheel where, when given a lead after the first lap, the likelihood is he would scamper off into the distance and never see him again. He is still a contender for this year’s Formula 1 drivers title, but he would need to establish consistency if he wants to count himself as among the greats in the sport.
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