Sebastian Vettel: Is he Germany’s next Michael Schumacher?
15th September 2008, 11:00 by Keith Collantine 43 Comments »
How many times in the future will we see Vettel on the top step of the podium?
Here’s what I wrote about Sebastian Vettel after he scored his first point at Indianapolis last year:
He was only going to get more attention than Hamilton on his debut if he’d stuck his BMW on pole, won the race, set fastest lap and snogged Bernie Ecclestone afterwards. But what he did do was damn impressive – and his form up to this point suggests we’ve another special talent on our hands.
Back then there was a lot of scepticism about how good he would turn out to be. But his mature and composed drive to victory in tricky circumstances will surely have answered most of the doubters. So, how good do we think he is now?
Hearing the German and then Italian national anthems playing one after the other at Monza yesterday it was hard not to think back to that famous race two years ago, when Michael Schumacher won and then announced he would retire from F1 at the end of the year.
The coincidence is perhaps at the root of many of the suggestions that Sebastian Vettel is the new Michael Schumacher. It’s far too early to say for sure that Vettel is that good a driver – but he could be the fresh young talent German fans have been waiting for.
No disrespect to Nick Heidfeld, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock or Adrian Sutil, but none of those drivers has anything like the kind of following Schumacher had. Even with five home drivers in the sport – a quarter of the grid – the German Grand Prix didn’t sell out this year.
By becoming the first German since Schumacher to win a race, Vettel can be the driver to change that.
The season didn’t start very well for Vettel as he was involved in a number of incidents though most, in fairness, were not of his doing. When we last had a look at Vettel’s career there was still some doubt over how good he was.
His win yesterday – as well as going some way towards justifying the hype – sets up a fascinating scenario when Vettel moves to Red Bull next year. His future team mate Mark Webber has been one of F1′s ‘nearly men’ for several years.
Now the much younger Vettel will joining him as a team mate with a victory already to his name. Of course, Webber might already be a Grand prix winner had it not been for a certain incident involving Vettel at Fuji last year.
There are still elements of Vettel’s ability as an F1 driver we’re yet to see. But he can already put an emphatic tick next to the box marked: “win a soaking wet race”.
Michael Schumacher won plenty of races like that. Is Vettel his successor in the eyes of Germany?
Read more about Sebastian Vettel: Sebastian Vettel biography
KB said on 15th September 2008, 12:12
He is already being called ‘Baby Schumi’. He is the next best thing, and I would love to see him in a top drive ASAP
Ron said on 15th September 2008, 12:13
Would be interesting to see.
I dont mean to punch holes in his well deserved victory, but his Pole Position was obtained with a tad bit of luck. had the weather impreved he wouldn’t of been there.
however he did prove overly composed in his drive to victory, and that i believe was learned after giving a lot of thought to the incident with Webber last year.
with that Vettel seems to have a good learning curve, and with the proper car might be bagging serious points soon.
as to whether he’s the next Michael Shunamcher, he’s got the time to do it. but in today’s F1, we see a lot of talents stuck in second and third tier teams with a lot to give but not much to give with. and some drivers that deserve to stay in the second and third are hired because of sponsorship backing.
after all F1 is a TEAM sport, and Vettel will be an integral part of a winning package in the very near future.
I just hope that Red Bull reconsider their engine supplier for next year if they want to make the best out of who they have.
Because to be Honest,Vettel would be a nice face for the modern F1, and a fitting Rival for Hamilton.
Paul Sainsbury said on 15th September 2008, 12:15
I certainly was impressed yesterday, although I certainly don’t want to see another Michael Schumacher. Hopefully he will be a superb talent and won’t feel the need to ram other drivers off the track and force his team mates to pull over and let him go past for the win. I am pretty confident he won’t do that. I am loving the post MS era.
Loki said on 15th September 2008, 12:22
You can argue that the Torro Rosso was the car to have on race day, given Bourdais’ starting slot and lap times – but for the youngster to punt the ex-Minardi-now-STR onto pole and win outright at Monza is truly amazing.
Only time will tell if it’s a one hit wonder, we can only hope that Red Bull do improve drastically next season so we can see the true potential. His season so far has been good but I doubt anyone would’ve thought it wouldve built up to this.
Everyone loves an underdog, right? But given the sight of drivers lining up to congratulate him on the victory lap and afterwards was one of the best sights this season – you can tell he’s a well liked chap.
I wonder if Schumacher is already talking to Ferrari to ensure Vettel’s services for 2011. I’m sure every team out there will be trying to see if they can fit him in somewhere.
f1freak said on 15th September 2008, 12:26
ferrari might have extended kimi contract but if vettel does well over the next two years ferrari will be definitly paying anything to get him….
Sumedh said on 15th September 2008, 13:19
Vettel has been heavily praised by Michael on a lot of occasions. A ferrari seat is definitely coming for him.
Sush said on 15th September 2008, 13:31
Ron, speed trap classification state his car was 12kph faster than anything else on track, because of the DRY set up.
Lustigson said on 15th September 2008, 13:39
I think he’s the next Piquet.
No, better still, the next Prost.
Or rather the next Senna.
Maybe he’s just the first Vettel…
Nick said on 15th September 2008, 13:42
I’d like to see Kimi and Vettel in Ferrari. I hope the Red Bull next year isn’t terrible with the Renault engine.
Brar said on 15th September 2008, 13:42
Vettel said something like this:
“The dry setup and begining of the race behind safety were the key to my victory”
IDR said on 15th September 2008, 14:20
It’s nice to see a weak team shinning in his own country’s race.
ToroRosso will probably will not be on podium too much times, but I’m pretty sure we will see Sebastian quite often on podium positions in the coming years.
One thing surprise me is why there are some F1 fans making comparisons of those new drivers with the old ones, Let Lewis be just lewis or Sebastian just Sebastian as Lustigson said. If they become legend, then all of us will put their name in the hall of fame.
Dorian said on 15th September 2008, 14:22
Well whatever he does, I certainly hope he can emulate Schumacher’s success, though with the current climate in F1 being markedly different from when Schumi was driving I’m not sure he’ll win 7 championships.
But the kid’s got talent and he seems like a really genuine guy to boot. I’ve been convinced of his talent since late last year, to be more specific: Suzuka!
I would also love to see him in a Ferrari at some stage. Whether he be partnered with Raikkonen, Kubica or Alonso, I think he would be great fun to have in a team and certainly would pull his weight.
I just hope that Red Bull supply both he and Webber with a decent car next year as I don’t want to see either of them potentially struggling down in 8th-12th positions regularly as I believe it would be a waste of both talents!! I want to see Vettel in a WDC/WCC winning car by 2010!!
KB said on 15th September 2008, 14:36
I am waiting for an article on Hamiltons ridiculous driving yesterday…..certain drivers have complained..
Keith Collantine said on 15th September 2008, 14:46
KB – it’s already on the notepad, along with a dozen other things…
You can always put article suggestions in the Skribit box by the way (upper right of the page).
Paul Sainsbury said on 15th September 2008, 15:06
@KB.
What do you mean ‘ridiculous driving’? Do you mean driving from 15th to 2nd,as in ridiculously good, or banging wheels with Webber, meaning ridiculously overly aggressive (in your opinion)?