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Vettel 2012 = Schumacher 2003 (8 posts)

Topic tags: Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel

Viewing post 1 to 8 (8 total posts)

The Radical said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

Who else agrees that Sebastian Vettel’s third crown bares more than a striking resemblance to Michael Schumacher in 2003?

Both defended their crown by the skin of their teeth, each having won eleven races the previous season, enduring indifferent form mid-season, putting the foot down with peerless drives late season (Monza-Indianapolis 2003, Suzuka-India 2012) yet limping to the title at the final race.

Schumacher had a horrendous weekend at Suzuka in 2003, qualifying fourteenth, colliding with Sato and limping home in eighth to win the title by two points, and we all know what happened to Vettel…

Both title rivals finished in second at the finale, Raikkonen in 2003, Alonso in 2012, one position lower than necessary to defeat Schumacher and Vettel.

Schumacher ended 2003 with six victories, whilst Vettel won five races.

It is ironic given the closeness of the two that history has repeated itself, it is a question now whether Vettel will go on to dominate in 2013 and win twelve or thirteen races, if it does happen, the names Vettel and Schumacher will be forever linked…

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Kingshark said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

I have noticed that too.

On another note, in the final race of the season, Mclaren finished Suzuka 2012 as 2-3. Same as Ferrari in Brazil 2012.

2003 and 2012 also both had 8 different race winners, but 2012 had 4 more races throughout the season, so by that logic 2003 was actually more competitive.

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matt90 said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

Although 2012 had 6 different teams winning, rather than 5. Particularly amazing that only 2 teams had both drivers scoring victories this year.

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Kingshark said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

Interesting how in 2003, no one won more than 2 races, apart from Schumacher who won 6! Yet despite that, Raikkonen who only won a single race still very nearly beat Schumacher in the championship.

Further evidence (IMO) that the 2003-09 point system was better than today’s.

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Younger Hamii said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

@KingShark Kimi also won only one race last season [2012] & was arguably the most consistent driver in both of those seasons.

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Enigma said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

@matt90 Had Perez and Hulkenberg not done errors in the two wet races, we could be looking at 8 different teams winning races. That’s incredible!

Excluding the newer teams, Toro Rosso is the only team that hasn’t fought for a victory this year.

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Keith Collantine said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

The defining moment in the 2003 season was the sudden rules change on tyres before the Italian Grand Prix. From that point on all the remaining races were won by Bridgestone and Ferrari and that momentum continued into 2004 as Michelin had to regroup and basically redesign their tyres.

I’m very glad the 2012 season didn’t have any similar such changes in the rules at such a critical point in the season. So I don’t really see much comparison between the championships or champions.

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Kingshark said 5 months, 3 weeks ago:

@keithcollantine

The defining moment in the 2003 season was the sudden rules change on tyres before the Italian Grand Prix. From that point on all the remaining races were won by Bridgestone and Ferrari and that momentum continued into 2004 as Michelin had to regroup and basically redesign their tyres.

That really killed a near-legendary season for me.

Mind you, I actually did support both Kimi and Juan over Michael that year.

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