F1 Fanatic

For me Vettel will be the next to driver to win a third world title.

It is always difficult to predict the future in F1, mainly because the competitiveness of the car is such a big factor.

When Alonso won his second title in 2006 I am sure most people would have thought he would have won another by now especially if you told them he would be in a McLaren for one of those years and a Ferrari for two of them. But he hasn’t managed it yet, even though for a lot of people, myself included, he has been the best all round driver in F1 during that period.

When Hamilton won the championship in 2008 after coming so close in his debt season of 2007 everyone predicted he would win more titles, but he has failed to do so yet and if he doesn’t improve on his performances this season he won’t add to his one title.

When Scheckter won the drivers championship for Ferrari in 1979 I am sure no one would it would be 2000 until Ferrari, the biggest name in F1, managed to win another Drivers title.

Personally I think Red Bull and Vettel will be the team to beat again next season. Adrian Newey and Red Bull will manage to stay one step ahead of the field just as Ferrari managed to during their period of domination a decade ago.

The other teams may say they have plenty of innovations to catch up but experimenting and taking risks to close the gap doesn’t always work, just look at the never raced McLaren MP4-18 from 2003 or the Walrus nosed Williams FW26 which only managed to win a race when they reverted to a more conventionally front end, a victory which at the moment is sadly still the last one for Williams.

Some have commentated that the ban on blown diffusers will affect Red Bull more because they pioneered the concept, however the 2009 RB5 was designed around a normal single diffuser and yet it wasn’t that far behind the double diffuser Brawn at the start of the season.

I see no reason why the 2012 Red Bull should not be at least equal to it’s rivals and I think Vettel himself will only get better.

The last time a similar question must have asked was the end of 99. Who will be first to 3, Schumacher or Hakkinen? And look how that turned out… It’s hard for me even to imagine Schumacher as only a two-time champ.

I don’t like Alonso. I don’t like his personality. But he deserves at least 3 championships. I’d rather see him win another than Vettel I think.

That is a really difficult to predict.
I think it is all about who gets the better car. If Alonso has the car next year, he will do it. If not, then Vettel will take it. That is, if the McLaren isn’t as quick.
But my guess will be Vettel. As he has an unmatched confidence right now, and because RB have had the fastest car for two years straight, and Ferrari have the last 3 years have build, one rubbish car, a decent car and a Made in Maranello RB6 copy. Which haven’t worked.
Also, they have made quite a lot of changes in their design office staff, which will probably help them in the future, but right now I don’t think they have the capacity to just sit down and build THE car for 2012, whereas Newey has all ready got him self very comfortable in his chair at RB.
RB also seems to be over their reliability problems from 2009 and 2010.
And as there are not many rules changes for next year, so I think RB by far has the higher chances of building the car to beat, therefore I think Vettel is going to be the first to 3.

My heart says nando, my head says seb

Don – that’s slightly painting the wrong story. Adrian Newey has always had a weakness – overly stable regulations which remain for long periods of time. He’s at his best in rule changes

I’d say 2014 would be the first “real” major rule change; especially with the engines. I think 2014 the engines will dictate a lot of the competitive order; but another key thing is given that Red Bull is now Renault’s works team; Renault Sport will be working a lot with Newey on how to package the engine; and its properties. This would practically mean then that the RB7 would have a bespoke engine.

Having said that; I fully believe that now; the technical department at RBR has evolved to a point where Newey is not a requirement. I believe now that even if Newey were to leave; RBR would stay winning.