Schumacher and Alonso hope for a more challenging 2012 season for Vettel

If the 2010 season had not been easy for Sebastian Vettel, who was initially unlucky and then nervous, and whose opponents continued to multiply throughout the year—from Lewis Hamilton to Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber—this year is much more so. Leading the championship since the very first race of the calendar, the Red Bull driver has achieved ten pole positions and won eight out of thirteen races, putting enough points between him and his rivals to potentially be crowned champion as early as this weekend in Singapore.

A season that vaguely recalls the dominance that drivers like Nigel Mansell in 1992 or Michael Schumacher in 2002 or 2004 could exert. An image that will certainly need to be put into perspective as Vettel, despite these statistics, did not completely crush the race, often finishing just a few seconds ahead of his closest rivals.

In any case, some of his peers, starting with Fernando Alonso, think it was too easy for Vettel: “This year was probably too easy for him because there are still six races to go before the end of the season and he has a mathematical chance of winning the title.” With a 112-point lead over the Ferrari driver, the reigning world champion is just a few points away from clinching the title “if certain conditions are met.” Resigned, the Bull of Asturias prefers to look to the future: “We must focus on the next season, we must be competitive from the first race in 2012,” added the 2005 and 2006 world champion.

The season confirmed, Felipe Massa nevertheless hopes that 2012 will have a different flavor: “I think everyone wants to see a championship that is decided at the last race, which was the case last year.” Since 2005, four seasons have been decided at the final Grand Prix: in 2006 for Alonso’s second title, in 2007 for Räikkönen’s title, in 2008 for Hamilton’s title and in 2010, therefore, for Vettel’s first title. These thrilling and spectacular finales have accustomed the participants and spectators of the top discipline to a certain level of intensity, which has not always been a hallmark of Formula 1 since 1950.

Massa added sincerely: « But they have a very good car and Seb is doing a very good job. Of course, it’s not good for us or for the spectators to see that, but he’s doing a very good job. I hope we have a good car next year to fight with them, to fight for the championship and win it ».

On Michael Schumacher’s side, a more complicated 2012 season is expected for Sebastian Vettel: « Obviously, Sebastian delivered a great performance this season. [In 2012], I don’t think he will risk getting tired, but it will be more difficult for his team. The gap will be smaller. This year, there were races where no one was able to follow him. That won’t happen anymore ». Since the change in technical regulations that took place during the season (ban on modifying engine mapping between qualifying and the race), Red Bull has been less dominant, at least in qualifying, which it still leads, giving hope to other competitors that the deeper changes to come for the next season could reignite the race for titles.

An optimism that is not shared by Gerhard Berger: “If [Vettel] continues like this and Adrian Newey keeps making such brilliant cars, he might enter dimensions that only Schumacher and Ferrari have reached.” Niki Lauda, always quick to temper enthusiasm, stated: “What happened with Michael will probably be out of Sebastian’s reach.” These are many questions for which the future will provide answers.