Alonso and Coulthard silence the critics about Vettel
Criticizing Sebastian Vettel is a risky endeavor: one must have solid arguments and, above all, be prepared to clash with some experts in the field, foremost among them David Coulthard and Fernando Alonso. Nothing less.
In light of the outrageous domination exerted by Sebastian Vettel in Formula 1 this season, several reactions are possible: the first is obviously to salute the talent of a precocious driver capable of the greatest feats, notably in qualifications, sometimes clinching pole position against all odds against competitors with cars reputed to be more efficient on certain tracks. Or, to praise the remarkable consistency of a driver capable of leading a race from start to finish without making the slightest mistake while being under – more or less strong – pressure from his rivals. Another is to strongly emphasize that the German, reigning world champion and on his way to retaining the Grail, has a car above the rest and wins most of his races when starting from the front, also benefiting from significant luck.
David Coulthard, who writes a column for the British newspaper The Telegraph as well as a blog on the website of the same name, has used these criticisms as a basis to write one of his latest posts, methodically debunking their foundation: « Seb is 92 points ahead of his closest rival, his teammate Mark Webber, which is certainly going to secure him a second consecutive title. He continues to sweep everything in his path. And there are still people questioning Seb’s driving. As if he were simply lucky to be in a Red Bull. As if he were an average driver because he wins races starting from pole ».
Venturing into a bit of foresight, the BBC consultant goes further: « I think we might witness the development of the greatest driver of all time in F1. Obviously, no one can say for sure. Only history will judge that. But the fact that Seb continues to improve every aspect of his driving, from race experience to tire management, building on his natural speed, is indisputable ».
The Scotsman added to corroborate his remarks: « I don’t think the standards in F1 have ever been as high as they are now. Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Mark Webber: these guys are world-class. Michael Schumacher came back and learned it the hard way. Seb is simply “over-performing ». As a reminder, the season /f1/actualite/11221-alonso-parle-de-la-formule-1.html is indeed one of the most packed in terms of achievements, with the presence of five Formula 1 world champions on the grid.
An opinion that was echoed earlier this month by Fernando Alonso, questioned by our German colleagues from *Autobild Motorsport* on several aspects of the top discipline, and notably on Vettel: « Sebastian is a great champion who is about to win his second title. He has a lot of talent and a particular ability to withstand pressure. The criticisms about him not being a true “competitor,” I don’t understand them. He has no problem with overtaking. But yes, he generally starts from pole position. He has remarkable qualities, he is very fast. Even if you have the best car, it doesn’t mean you’re parked in first place. You must be able to make the most of your car in a single lap. Sebastian is capable of that, without a doubt. He also makes good starts and has excellent races with good strategies, even in difficult conditions, like in Montreal under the rain. Despite a mistake, he was able to finish second. Also think of Monaco: even if the tires were worn out, he could have won the race without the interruption ».
