Newey: Vettel wants to do even better in 2012

Vettel experienced an incredible season in 2011; he was dominant throughout, securing 15 pole positions and 11 victories. The double world champion impressed his team, especially the RB7 designer, Adrian Newey. The latter believes that Vettel is a very good driver, someone curious and constantly seeking to improve.

« I think all I can say is that Seb is a very brilliant young man who is determined, very curious, and tries to understand everything at once about his car and his own performance, and if he makes a mistake, which as a human can happen to him, then he tries to learn from it, » explained Adrian Newey to Autosport.

Newey therefore believes that Vettel will try to do even better in 2012 by making fewer mistakes – which will also be the case for Red Bull. The technical director of the Austrian team cited the Canadian Grand Prix as an example, which Vettel lost after going off the dry line under pressure from Button on the last lap of the Grand Prix.

So he will analyze in detail everything he did this year (2011) and try to improve from that. An example is Montreal where he was distraught after the race – because he was beaten on the last lap despite having dominated the entire race.

«We all were, to be honest. As a team, we all learned a lesson from it and I think we didn’t take enough action in the critical moments – because we probably could have done a little better during the red flag, we could have informed him about Jenson’s return in the last laps. These are the little things that allow you to learn.»

Adrian Newey also shared that the Red Bull team is just as motivated to win races and championships as it was at the beginning, even though it has just secured the last two constructors’ and drivers’ titles.

There is a huge desire and hunger (for success). And, to be honest, that’s the case no matter what your position is. If you’re seventh, you aspire to be better placed. And what is amusing when you do things well, from my experience, is that you don’t feel like you’re doing things differently from when you didn’t have as many results, the Brit added.