Originally Posted by crake:
“Personally, I love Vettel's attitude in this race. This is why he's a three time champion.”
No it's not; it's chiefly because of design genius Adrian Newey's cars, as Fernando Alonso has basically said before. He knows the score!
I'm actually quite astonished at the amount of rubbish that has been written in this thread. I usually hang out at a forum dedicated completely to F1 and the knowledge at that site far surpasses this thread, which mainly seems to be full of youngsters/those who don't know the sport very well so are unable to put these events into a wider context. They seem to think Vettel's actions made things exciting without analysing them any deeper. This is the only site I've seen where approx 60-70% of people have sided with Vettel re. the race - everywhere else it's the reverse. It's unbelievable how some people are viewing this situation in a completely unrealistic way, as if they're looking into a kaleidoscope.
Everyone who is complaining about team orders has missed the point. This wasn't the kind of team order which seeks to benefit a driver like the one for Schumi/Barrichello at Austria 2002. The point is that in F1 you've got two competing priorities - the constructors' championship and the drivers' championship and it's very difficult to reconcile those at times - certainly at this early stage in the season. The team is interested in the constructors' championship first and foremost, rather than the drivers' championship. RBR as a team, sensibly wanted to nurse both the cars home to secure a 1-2 finish and protect the engine and resources for future races - both drivers knew this but only one followed the plan.
I'm not surprised that the engineers and mechanics gave Vettel only a lukewarm congratulations - they must be furious to see one of their drivers irresponsibly gambling with equipment worth millions of pounds. Did you see Adrian Newey's face both on the pitwall and in the room where they wait before the podium? For all Schumacher's on-track shenanigans, he didn't usually disrespect his own team. He knew what it took to be a good leader - how to build a team around himself, and that's what the boy Vettel has yet to learn. His main problem is that he has been spoilt, having been with RBR from a young boy - it would do him some good to be with a mid-ranked team for a few years and have some tough times, much as Jenson Button did. People go on about how 'Vettel is a racer; he should be allowed to race' but he can only do that with the help of his team and he has just given them the two-fingered salute through his actions on Sunday. Finally, behaviour like this from Vettel does not look good as far as the sponsors are concerned - he should think about that.
It has been clear for a couple of years now that these two drivers don't have equal status yet RBR aren't being honest about that as other teams would be; and also that Vettel fanboy, Helmut Marko, is the guy calling the shots in the background rather than team principal, Christian Horner. The best thing Webber can do now is remain quiet as it's not worth wasting his breath; just see the season out and then retire from F1. Maybe go and drive in another series or just try some different projects altogether.
Here's Lee McKenzie's article for 'Motorsport'. A good insight into what went through her mind whilst waiting to interview the drivers post-race:
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1...ce-interviews/