~RS~q~RS~v=~RS~z~RS~16~RS~)
Korean Grand Prix highlights
Sebastian Vettel not yet a great - Sir Jackie Stewart
Former F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart does not believe Sebastian Vettel can yet be called one of the greats, even if he wins a third straight title.
The Red Bull driver won his fourth race of 2012 in Korea last weekend to take the lead in the drivers' standings.
Sir Jackie Stewart Three-time world champion“Vettel completely dominated the Korean Grand Prix and drove in such a mature fashion for a 25-year-old”
But Stewart told BBC Sport: "If you've got a superior car, it's relatively easy to win the championship.
"To really show you're one of the greatest, you have to deliver when you haven't got the best machinery."
The three-time world champion added: "I have the highest respect for Sebastian, but he could not have achieved what he has without the [Red Bull design chief] Adrian Newey factor."
Vettel won his maiden F1 title in 2010 in what was only his third full season in Formula 1. The German defended that championship in dominant fashion last season, winning 11 of the 19 races.
This season Red Bull initially struggled for pace and reliability and up until the 14th grand prix Vettel had won just one race - round four in Bahrain - to trail championship leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari by 39 points.
But Red Bull then improved their car and the 25-year-old has since become unbeatable, winning in Singapore, Japan and Korea to take a six point lead from Alonso with four races to go.
"I'm a big Sebastian Vettel fan," added Stewart. "He completely dominated the Korean Grand Prix and drove in such a mature fashion for a 25-year-old. It was more than impressive.
"Vettel has established himself as the favourite and Alonso is now on the back foot.
Sebastian Vettel profile
- Age: 25
- Debut: 2007 United States Grand Prix
- Races: 97
- Championships: 2 (2010, 2011)
- Wins: 25
- Podiums: 43
- Pole positions: 34
- Fastest laps: 13
"Led by Adrian Newey, Red Bull have bounced back from a slow start to the season and have now come up with superior equipment."
On Monday, BBC Sport linked Vettel - who is two wins away from equalling Stewart's record of 27 career victories - with a move to Ferrari in 2014.
But Stewart said: "I think that's premature. He would be mad to leave Red Bull at the present time.
"I know there would be a difference in their basic salary, but he's in a position where he's winning grands prix.
"He's won 25 races and is going to knock me off my perch before the end of the season - but he's only 25 and still has time to move."
Comments
Jump to comments pagination
All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.
More from Formula 1
Elsewhere on the BBC
-
Watch video On the move in Mumbai
What is it like to live in this humming metropolis where everyone is in a hurry?
-
Comment number 538.
tristancanine18th October 2012 - 23:33
I just wish god would help us to completely shut him up ASAP as lot of us fedup of all of his nonsense! Amen
Link to this (Comment number 538)
Comment number 537.
mit91118th October 2012 - 23:32
@525
As for the Vettel question...I've not been impressed by him at all this year. Until Singapore, he didn't have the best car and he was underwhelming.
Completely agree, when MSC was making his mark you could sense he was different to the other drivers and I don't get that feeling with SV.
He is clearly good but he is also lucky- if he fell out of a window he would go up!
Not a great IMO.
Link to this (Comment number 537)
Comment number 536.
Rach198518th October 2012 - 22:51
@534 yes because following the Ferrari domination with the rule changes we had some fantastic seasons. But I agree with you in that it does seem harsh, like punishing success. But all bernie a cares about is commercial success and viewing figures so if red bull dominate I am sure he will be pushing the FIA for changes in rules
Link to this (Comment number 536)
Comment number 535.
goenzoy18th October 2012 - 22:37
502.rn
Singapore update of RB was DDRS what is essential a overtaking aid.Not really useful when you are first in a race like Seb.
But yes it helped Mark and Seb in Q3.As I already said development happens in packages and the driver is part of this package.
Pretty useless when you develop a quick car with side effect over steer when your driver doesnt like oversteer
Link to this (Comment number 535)
Comment number 534.
F118th October 2012 - 22:33
@532,
It's a difficult one. On one hand it doesn't seem right to punish success through new regulations aimed at making F1 competitive again. On the other hand, it's so incredibly dull to watch the same WDC for years on end.
Though in MS's case we had all seen how good he was pre and early Ferrari. The same is not true of SV which makes his dominance even worse.
Link to this (Comment number 534)
Comments 5 of 538