Sebastian Vettel dashes hopes of reining in Red Bull

Past experience is that when Adrian Newey achieves perfection, he moves on.

Where next?

Ferrari?

Seems a shame to not comment with this empty box sitting here:

Well done Vettel. He again drove excellently.
Good to see Webber up there. Maybe his tussling with Alonso prevented Alonso from taking the fight to Vettel.
Poor show from Mclaren, Button esp. hampered with ineffective KERS.
Other than that, some interesting dicing in the mid-field, but as Martin Brundle said, 'It was alright'. Interesting from a tactical pov, though perhaps the dullest race this season. It seemed like a return to previous seasons, even with DRS and the tyres and KERS. Let's hope it's only a glitch in otherwise interesting racing.

The front may be stitched up, it can happen in F1 as any long time fan knows, but there's still a lot of places completely undecided.

Its a stark and indeed bleak picture being painted for everyone else this season. Only once has my lifelong passion for F1 been quenched... only once did I turn away in bored and disinterested disillusionment. Those feelings are returning I'm sorry to say - the smug arrogance of F1's youngest ever champion only serves to enhance the irritation at the fact that the pinnacle of motorsport is no longer a race for the championship but a fight to be second best. The FIA has been "accused" of engineering a mid-season rule change to try and curb the RB7's advantage but if that was the aim, I'd applaud it to be honest. Coupled with Horner's awkward and apparently embarrassed attempts at humour, Adrian Newey's sweaty squint, and Vettel's fore-finger, my ire is pushing me into wanting to switch off again. Small hope remained due to Lewis's fantastic win in China and Jenson's glorious drive from the back in Canada but the resigned attitude of F1's 2 fastest (Lewis and Ferrnando) today has put another nail in the coffin of my enthusiasm. If what you suspect may happen with the rule change at Silverstone actually manifests Andrew, I think I'm done with this season.

Such false humility from the team that whined and moaned at the Brawn's 0.3 second advantage in 2009 and the driver who crashed into everyone he was attempting to overtake last year should be greeted with contempt rather than applauded.

Newey has had his disaters as well, a prime example being the Mclaren MP4/18 and the original FW16. I would think he would find being employed by Ferrari not to his liking.. John Barnard never worked in Italy when he penned the Ferraris, would Newey? I take the current RBR situation to be like Mclaren in the late 90's.. The best thing about it is that Vettel will remove Alonso as the youngest double WDC..

Why are people continuing to say that Vettel "cracked under pressure" from Button - he did no such thing!! Just look back to the Spanish GP when he kept Hamilton at bay for most of the second half of the race.

In Canada, he knew full well that Button would take him in the DRS zone, so was going as fast as he could to ensure more than a second gap. He put a wheel outside the dry line, and all of a sudden he's a choker!!

@Vagabond

I think we might have to be content in the anticipation that the few victories that Hamilton, Button and Alonso and co pick up this year will be real, hard fought, classic victories, the sort that separate the good drivers (cough Vettel) from the great. Victories like China and Canada are worth much more than their respective points tally.

I still can't get beyond the belief that Vettel is a one-trick pony. It just so happens that his one trick is to pull out a quick lead which then only needs to be maintained, and that he is in perfect symbiotic harmony with what is clearly the best car overall. If I ever see him fight his way to a grand prix victory, I may change my mind about him, but I can't think of a single victory of his where he didn't start from the front row and lead into the first corner (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

@Travers89

Absolutely agree 100%

My fear is that RBR will only extend their advantage and, barring incident or rain, we'll see no more real challenges from the others this season.

An awesome performance by Red Bull and Vettel yet again.
It was more than clear Vettel was pacing himself at the front and could easily have broken clear of the pack, if necessary, much earlier in the race.
For all of the overtaking and closer racing in the pack, this season has been a huge disappoint with respect to the competitiveness of Ferrari and McLaren.
Particularly with respect to McLaren, questions over the position of Martin Whitmarsh must now be asked.
He is the principal of a team with a formidable engineering resource yet the teams performances under his tenure have been middling at best.
He has presided over a calamitous 2009, although he could be forgiven as the reigns of power had only just been passed to him, in their entirety, that year. However, the team has failed to cover itself in title glory in 2010 or 11.
Furthermore he seems to lack a racer's soul and appears far too content to accept mediocre team performances with a smile and the line 'It's very disappointing'.
Will the real McLaren please stand up because F1 has become too boring and predictable at the sharp end and needs a strong resurgent McLaren.

Vettel won. Hurrah.

Have to agree, regardless of whatever spin the media and pundits put on the rest of this season, it's effectively over. Perhaps Newey should go back to Williams and return them to their glory days of yesteryear.

It looks like under the current conditions that Vettel like Schumacher, is driven by statistics... poles, wins and fastest laps etc..

How I miss the Senna/Prost era! (sigh)

ZZzzzzzzzzz .....

What I seem not to understand is why high degredation tyres are made by Pirelli on a boring hard to overtake track as Valencia. A track like this should see more durable tyres which will allow the full speed of the cars to be exploited. This will make for more excitement because managing tyres on a track like this means the cars will just follow each other with little attempt at over taking due to the risk of losing tyre performance fast. I don't mind the need for drivers to save tyres but there has to be balance on certain tracks to reward risk taking aggressive driving by producing more durable tyres. Boring race for me but congratulations to Vettle for yet again a dominance performance. After the troubles Lewis has had, he can take positives from 4th and patiently build on a steady consistent run but the question of any one catching Vettle seems rhetorical for now.

What I seem not to understand is why high degredation tyres are made by Pirelli on a boring hard to overtake track as Valencia. A track like this should see more durable tyres which will allow the full speed of the cars to be exploited. This will make for more excitement because managing tyres on a track like this means the cars will just follow each other with little attempt at over taking due to the risk of losing tyre performance fast. I don't mind the need for drivers to save tyres but there has to be balance on certain tracks to reward risk taking aggressive driving by producing more durable tyres. Boring race for me but congratulations to Vettle for yet again a dominance performance. After the troubles Lewis has had, he can take positives from 4th and patiently build on a steady consistent run but the question of any one catching Vettle seems rhetorical for now.

People always find a way to criticize the good drivers, the hard fact remains that Vettel has learnt tons from last year : he got ripped because he never made the most out of what was the best car on the track and only won at the death in Abu Dhabi. This season he has capitalized on having the best car on the track by maximizing everything, he never finished below 2nd place...

His talent is to put himself in pole position from where he'll win races with minimal fuss, and there's nothing wrong with that. Ask Hamilton or Alonso and they'd rather win like this more often than having to fight their way to the lead (although that's more eye-catching for obvious reasons). The other thing Vettel is doing super well is tyre-management. The RedBull probably does better than others in this department but it's still a great skill of his to manage them and not "fall off the cliff".

Hamilton did well considering his last 2 (fairly disastrous) races, though again I'm sure people will find a way to criticize him after today's race, by saying he made a bad start, shouldn't have let Massa through, etc... Alonso had a great race and was the only one to really give Vettel and Webber just on their toes throughout the race, luck favoured him after Webber's gearbox gave in. It's quite clear Ferrari are the only ones that can challenge Red Bull in hot conditions, McLaren don't seem to be that fast in super-hot conditions, Turkey showed that and today's race confirmed it.

@Andrew Benson : You make a very interesting point about the hot-blown diffusers. If indeed Red Bull use "cold-blown diffusers" then Silverstone will probably guarantee Red Bull and Vettel their respective titles, Vettel is a worthy champion and his defence of the title is quite brilliant. It's a pleasure seeing a champion like him.

To put it in some form of perspective if one of the drivers currently in second place in the championship won every remaining race & Vettel came second then they'd end up with the same number of points as him at the end of the season (albeit with more wins) or in other words they'd need to average 7 points more than Vettel per race to end up with the same points tally. Alonso & Hamilton, who most would see as the best contenders, are even further behind & would need 12 & 22 points more respectively than in the example above

It was already totally obvious before this race, that the only way anyone would have a chance to overhaul Vettel was if he has 2 DNF's and either Button Alonso or Hamilton win both those races. Without that, even if anyone of those three push him into an error, as Button did, he's still going to keep picking up enough points to keep them at bay.
As for this race, it was just one big bore. All that really happened was Hamilton and Webber dropped a place and Alonso picked up 2. At the end of this unexciting season, I have a distinct feeling we'll all be saying--thank god for Canada.
One thing that fascinates me about this post is why you call Alonso and Hamilton the two best drivers in the world Andrew. Neither of them have yet done anything to justify that title and it's hard to say that about Vettel either. After all only a fool would disagree that he has the best car we've seen since the Mansell/Williams golden era. In act for anyone to be given that accolade, all the top drivers would have to be driving identical cars. Even Michael had for most of the time, a totally superior car.

Another totally dull GP at Valencia, I only watched this year because I thought the tyres might make it more interesting, but they just made the race even more boring.

Bernie, if you care, I'm not watching this race ever again - if you want to drop a GP from the calender then this would be the one to dump. I don't think anyone would miss it in the slightest.

The only two things I found pleasing about this race:

Hamilton didn't go crazy and picked up solid points, and Alguersuari may have just secured a drive next year, whether it be with Toro Rosso or another team. Two excellent performances from him.

I agree in this Red Bull with the form he is in he is unstoppable, as for the race was not that entertaining but that is the way Valencia race has been

Given his achievements in the last three years, it seems a bit disrespectful to Vettel to call Alonso and Hamilton the finest drivers in the world - as if it's an undisputed fact.

Mark Webber has been within a race of the world championship, but he hasn't had a look-in this season. He used to have a reputation as a qualifying specialist, but Vettel has beaten him to pole after pole.

Hamilton isn't even ahead of his team-mate in the standings. You can argue he's taken more risks - but if he was one of the undisputed finest drivers in the world, you'd expect him to be the undisputed best driver in his team. And in Monaco and Montreal, he arguably had the fastest car, but couldn't take his chances.

Alonso is amazing, he really won me over with his drives at the business end of last season in an inferior car - but he's made plenty of mistakes when he's under pressure as well (which is what happens when you push to the limits!).

I believe Vettel has earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as those two - the world champion (reigning and elect) should at least be mentioned when you're listing the finest drivers in the world.

Good controlled race by Herr Vettel, very impressive drive by Alguersuari who managed to drive at his maximum for the entire race without any of his trademark concentration lapses.

As for the rest of the race it was underwhelming and a poor spectacle for the TV viewer, although I am sure the Spanish fans were happy with the performance of Alonso.

Contrary to what has been mentioned earlier, I don't think Adrian Newey will move on from Red Bull for the forseeable future. With Williams and McLaren I suspect that company politics played a bigger part in his working life and at Red Bull he is much freer to express himself without being questioned.

So Vettel becomes the youngest double-World Champ, fair enough, he's made the most of a massive advantage – but my biggest fear is that Newey will go on to spearhead a period of domination akin to the dark days of Schumacher/Ferrari, during which there were race weekends when I just wouldn't bother watching anymore, such was the relentless tedium of foregone conclusions.

Remember what a breath of fresh air it was when Alonso and Renault were able to take the fight to Ferrari and when Hamilton/McLaren came into the mix… then how exciting the second-half of 2009 was compared with the Button/Brawn-dominated first-half?

Much as I admire Newey, if such a period of domination occurs once more – with at least two great drivers on the grid currently, Alonso and Hamilton, unable to challenge Vettel's Red Bull – it would be a travesty for F1.

@ 20

Perhaps the reason that many feel Vettel doesn't yet deserve being mentioned in the same breath as Alonso and Hamilton is precisely the point you made about Alonso's drives in an inferior car. Both these drivers have driven many heroic races and made countless sublime passing moves, the likes of which Vettel still has to do on a regular basis. That's not to say he can't do it – his Torro Rosso race debut was proof that he's good but that was a freak race – but if you have a massive car advantage you lead from the front.

As for your comment about Hamilton… last year he had a couple of hot-headed DNFs but he still blew Button away. This year his team put him on the back foot at Monaco and Canada was a mess so he dropped a lot of points. No he isn't ahead of Button – for now – but today, even before Button's Kers problem he wasn't able to run at Hamilton's pace. Button may have the odd great race when changing conditions and safety cars shake things up but generally it takes Hamilton to mess-up for Button to beat him fair and square under 'normal' conditions.

Back to Vettel, twice he has come under severe pressure this season, from Hamilton in Spain, where he knew the only passing place was at the end of the start/finish straight, where Hamilton couldn't get close enough – and Canada where he fell off on the last lap. When was the last time you saw a 'great' drop it on the very last lap?

Two questions:

After watching the Senna film, I wonder what the great man would think about the current state of F1?

If F1 was on Five or ITV, to what extent would the UK popularity of F1 decrease? Even I find the hyperbole 'stunning/amazing/fantastic etc' and constant search for 'gossip' by the BBC (particularly the website) nauseating , and I'm an F1 fan....

It's obvious that the Red Bull is a great F1 car.

Therefore it's difficult to tell just how great a driver Vettel is. There are other drivers in the paddock (including ones who do not currently have a race seat) who were matching or beating Vettel in junior formula. I think in an end of season test at Abu Dhabi last year Daniel Ricciardo beat Vettels qualifying time for the race a week or two before.

In my view until Vettel gets another previous world champion in the same equipment as him it is impossible to judge where he is. In the meantime he will do just enough to win the races. No one can blame him for doing that.

Part of becoming the F1 world champion is gaining a seat in the fastest car. To achieve that requires a mixture of money initially, good performances and luck. For a driver their championship doesn't start in the first race of that season, it is on the Kart track when they were younger with every race aimed towards the eventual world title.

My view is that Webber is a middle of the pack driver who has got lucky with the car that he has inherited and he is not capable of making the most of his chance.

Hamilton is clearly fast but entertainingly erratic.

Button is roughly matching Hamilton for race pace but lacks that edge in qualifying. His genius is in tricky conditions. I'd like to see him have a go at rallying.

Alonso is clearly a great driver all round and is getting more out of the Ferrari than it should be capable of. I think he is the only driver out of the five that I have mentioned who is out performing the car.

I would love F1 to organise a yearly non-championship race involving the current top eight constructors where the driver in each team who is behind his team mate in the points has to race for a different team which is drawn at random and each team can field a third car with any driver not currently racing in F1. That would give a better indication of the pecking order.

how many races before vettel inevitably wins the championship? its sad to ask this question but its almost certain that we're entering another era of dominance by a german driver

Andrew,

You quote Mark Webber as saying "This is probably our weakest track of the year," - he did not say that. He said it was one of their top 3 weakest. But you purposely misquoted him to make the challenge facing Ferrari and McLaren look bigger than it really is.

You also say "Every part of the [Red Bull] car designed to perfection" - I'd hardly use "perfect" to describe their KERS system.

You say of Vettel: "the sort of wild-card circumstances that led to his only defeats so far this season." China was no "wild card". Lewis Hamilton beat him fair and square.

It seems you want to sensationalise, exaggerate and fantasise a false reality in order to make it become reality.

I guess the truth wouldn't quite fit your theory of Red Bull perfection, but hey - who wants to know the truth when fiction is so much more interesting, eh?

It's been the one ironic constant of the season - one of the most-watched and exciting championships ever, yet also one of the most one-note straight processions for the person that's going to be champion (and we really should just start calling Vettel champion now already).

Life's funny like that sometimes. I do wonder if the viewing figures might end up tailing off for the second half of the championship though as, no matter how interested people are in the cars and drivers, runaway victors never get as many eyeballs tuning in except for their home country.

This was not a good day to be a British F1 fan. It was also not a good day to be anything other than a Sebastien Vettel fan. Having said that, I can't remember McLaren having ever had a decent race in Valencia so maybe I shouldn't be too surprised.

The season is also not over yet, it's not going to be like '01 when Schumacher had won the championship before Silverstone.

There is no skill in this mythological art of tyre management, why do people keep propagating this garbage. Either your car is easy on tyres, or it's not. If there was a 'skill' then Button would be trouncing Hamilton at every turn, and he is not.
Newey said Webber was ‘getting better’ at tyre management. Really?, why, what is he doing, parking up for a few minutes, letting them cool down, maybe throwing some of his drinks bottle over them during slow corners?. Rubbish, hes no better now than he will be at the end of the season.
Tyre management is a myth. Stick Vettel fourth on the Grid, and see how his tyre management is then, as he has to go offline to defend/attack, and abuse them as he squirts out of corners desperate to make up places like Alonso, Hamilton and the rest are currently having to do.

Once again I will highlight the shock to the system upon hearing teams say such things as "slow down, your tyres are hot". That is not F1.

I do not blame Pirelli, but I do blame the short-sighted people involved in the decision making processes within F1. Who thought that having tyres that exploded after a few laps was a good idea.

DRS was simply not affective in Valencia because none of the cars dared to even risk pressing their accelerator, in fear of causing such damage to his tyres it ruined their race.
As one of the BBC F1 team said, if you’re not on Pole, forget it, as the tyres are so poor, you simply won’t risk anything.

Go back to tyres that slowly degraded over a race, allow the teams to decide if they want a one, two or three pit-stop race.

F1 is perilously close to becoming a joke event, with no real challenges on the track, only some techie sitting in the camper van telling drivers to slow down, because they can win if they 'slow down'. What sort of mind-set is that, telling a driver to slow down, so that they may win, or grab a podium, at the penalty of driving the car to its full potential.

Valencia one of Red Bull's top three worst tracks? Really? I'd have thought that the fast sweeping corners of the final sector were built for them.

Monaco is one surely, where aero isn't critical. Montreal another, with slow speed corners and heavy braking with several long drags in between. I'm not convinced that Monza, Spa or Singapore are Red Bull tracks either. Today was a bad day for the McLaren's, highlighting one of their flaws with tyre temperature management, but it seems a bit of a stretch to claim that Valencia is a bad track for Red Bull.

Wont mind BBC dropping F1 now today's race was one of the most boring i have ever seen, yet the BBC F1 team seemed rather oblivious to this with Jake yesterday saying 'dont be fooled by the standings the championship is still alive'.

If anyone thinks this F1 season is good then you should start watching Indycars. The racing is so much closer and more competitive and does not need wet conditions to spice up the racing.

Thats what ill be watching for the rest of the year not stupid enough to get brainwashed by Jake and co that it is worth watching the races

Shame on you Vettel haters the guy is winning fair and square, by far the fastest one lap driver in years and once out front in the race can defend with the best of them, one slip in Monreal does not a bad driver make, as most of you seem to think Lewis is the best and he has made plenty of mistakes and has always had a top running car! and China was down to tyres. I'm a British F1 fan and love seeing Vettel doing what he does so well including the finger!! If he does go on to dominate in the next few years I will still watch F1 because I am a fan of F1. I hope Vettel wins with races to spare to poke you bunch of miseries in the eye with that oh so wonderful finger! And this is coming from a Button fan but most of all an F1 fan

There has been some great racing this season but it doesn't alter the fact that the RB is blowing everything else out the water.

I would also like to point out that this track was just as boring this year as it has been every year, just like Monaco generally is.....perhaps the only way to make it more interesting is to open the bridge every so often.

Let's give credit where credit is due. Red Bull have put together a fantastic team on and off the track. Ferrari and McLaren haven't been able to match their pace or development. Vettel is outdriving the other drivers. It is not just about speed and aggression, it's about management of the chassis under you and adapting to the track, temperature and tyres. Valencia was a perfect example of all that. I enjoy watching Vettel's perfection as much as tight competition which there was lots of further back in the pack. I say congratulations to an amazing team effort on Red Bull's part. And may McLaren and Ferrari learn and improve for the next race.

To make it a better test of man and machine, the FIA must make moves to ban pit-to-car communications, and make the driver take decisions on how to drive the car and get it to the finish line.

Also, remove all driver aids other than the pedals at his feet (to go faster or slower) and the steering wheel in his hands (to change direction).

If Mr Vettel stops with that annoying finger I'll probably feel more like supporting him. I'm sure he does it now just to annoy people really, he probably knows how much it annoys people! Never forget at Silverstone last year when he fell to last a few people in the grandstand gestured '24' with their fingers at him while he was changing tyres in the pitstop. He is a cracking driver, just needs to be less of a bad winner!

I've loved this season, however it's getting slightly annoying seeing vettel so dominant, but we must remember that webber has the same car! I really want to see webber win a championship, but it seems for now vettel is driving like a real champ, see brundles qualifying analysis before each race, clearly vettel is driving very well. And is carrying huge momentum and confidence, its going to take a miracle to see any other driver take this years champ. Were seeing the best car, with a very good very self motivated young lad at the wheel. It's pained me to say all that. But it's the way it Is! Another german in a another dominant car! We need lewis in a red bull, them we can judge, and I hope this becomes a reality, because mclaren are starting to get on my nerves. With the money, experience and resources at there hands, this isn't good enough, not to mention having arguably the best driver and a very good driver on board.

@Vagabond You are so right...haven't been more so bored all season...back to procession....even Brundle and Coulthard sounded bored...trying to talk up any incidents that would create any form of exciting! grant though Vettel is a good driver....not great yet until he proves himself under pressure from the likes of Hamilton and Alonzo when they eventually get their hands on decent cars.....its a farce though that by race 8 Vettel seems to have won the championship....its his to lose now

The finger thing wouldn't bother me if he could actually count.

Vettel, number 1 is the left index figure but you keep gesturing number 7.

@16 canchaz
"why you call Alonso and Hamilton the two best drivers in the world Andrew. Neither of them have yet done anything to justify that title and it's hard to say that about Vettel either."

4 world championships between them. Welcome to F1, newbie.

What a boring and tedious race. Vettel is winning because he hasn't had to do anything except stay in front.

I'll switch off until next season

Also what is it with all this @name of poster?

An @ symbol can never precede a word unless it has a word connected to the front of it

Vettel was superb once again, for someone so young to understand tyre management and still maintain the speed he has is phenomenal. Whether you like it or not, this is part of modern racing and while it might not be as exciting as previous decades in terms of overtaking it's here to stay. I can already see Vettel becoming a multiple Le Mans 24 hours winner after his F1 career is over, I'll be watching for that in 15 years time.

I think the self discipline between Hamilton and Vettel became heavily apparent in this race. Hamilton responding to a message to drop his pace with "I can't drive any slower" while setting purple sectors to Vettel's constant pace that didn't drop over a whole stint, I think the difference was shown there.

That said it was a brilliant drive from Hamilton, no silly risks and he was definitely best of the rest over the distance. The race long scrap with webber and Alonso was interesting but I have to agree, overall it was far from up to what we've seen before.

#3

Agree completely. You're spot on.

Andrew

I disagree with your analysis and think you are doing Vettel a major disservice. If the RB7 was so great then why aren't Red Bull running in one-two finishes every race? The difference is Vettel. Both drivers were reasonably close together last year; Webber, who won several times, is nowhere near the pace this season.

I am also unsure of your attempt to draw a parallel between two eras of constructor dominance. The Williams FW14B was running rings around the competition in the hands of both Mansell and Patrese. It was a technological masterpiece that was so far ahead of its competition with its active suspension and the renault v10. The RB7 hasn't even been the fastest car in two of the past four races, and contains nothing equivalent to the tricks of the Williams in its day. Again, if it was the car, why is Webber not always bring the car home a clear second?

Great drive from Vettel today, I love seeing him win as he has certainly earned it. As for everyone moaning about the finger thing, well its just his way of celebrating and quite frankly I doubt most people would have picked up on it or found it annoying if a certain Mr Button hadn't jokingly said "I wish he'd stop doing the finger thing" (or something along those lines). It does seem to me that some people just clearly have a problem with him winning because of his nationality rather than anything else! This is F1, Schumacher got himself into the situation of being in the best car a lot of the time and he won 7 world titles (I'm far from a fan by the way), now Vettel has got himself in that situ as well. I think that you'll find most of the World Champs of the past got themselves into that situ too, it's the way it works!

Processional boring race, even with double DRS...that track needs to go, fast. As for Vettel winning, perhaps more attention should be given to Adrian Newey and less to the driver....most test drivers can do what he is doing. Webber, well he knows his place and the teams order, he is like Schueys team mates at Ferrari, just following and picking up a paycheck. So little racing spirit from most drivers out there today, bet the FIA and media are glad they finally broke Hamilton into being a sheep like the rest. RIP F1.

I started yawning before half-way, Minimised the screen and listened to the commentary while I worked on other stuff with my computer. After much criticism of Hamilton last week, he has probably decided to just switch off and just ' follow the leaders '. . and to hell with overtaking and/or winning the race.
But, here's hoping he reverts to his swashbuckling style and inject some life back into F1.
No use relying on Button either, he's back to his old boring self as well !!

#47

"Schumacher got himself into the situation of being in the best car a lot of the time" Not a Shuey fan, but credit where it's due...After two world championships in '94 and '95 he moved to Ferrari, where in that time ferrari scored zero wins with Alesi and Berger. They both moved to Renault and Schuey moved to Ferrari. In 1996 Shuey won three times and Renault zero, so certainly more than just the car at work there. It wasn't until 2000 that they became dominant, and in the intervening years he was challenging for the championship (against Newey designed cars, incidentally).

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

no. 46:

The reason Webber isn't bringing the car home in 2nd consistently is because either he is only an average driver at best, or this season the RB7 is far more suited to Vettels style than Webbers, whereas last season it was far more evenly set-up (and actually slightly in Webbers favour until the las 1/3 of the season).

If Vettel wasnt in the RB7, he wouldnt be leading the world championship, its as simple as that - he showed last season that he cant win from anywhere else than the front/in pit stops.

Finally - if the FIA want to bring things closer, they should ban DRS in qualifying and allow at least one more set of the option tyres each race. The reason RB have such a big advantage in qualifying is because their natural downforce is so good, they can use much more DRS and also they gain more from the reduction in drag than most teams anyway. It's ridiculous to use something as often as you like in qualifying that is only supposed to be an overtaking aid!?! The extra sets of tyres would see drivers driving at 100% for the full race (they might even decide to fully fuel the cars with this in mind) and would make a far better spectical!

*spectacle - it must be the heat today! :-)

@ Bamz_ftw
had to write in to congratulate this post. Well said. I commented on this Blog a while back that F1 should be renamed "Tyre Management championships" as that is about all that's left of a once glorious sport. 

I didn't waste my time watching this race - the outcome was exactly as expected - another Newey win - and baring more extraordinary circumstances, Silverstone will be the same as will most of the remaining races. 

Some comments echo my wish that Vettel is awarded the title before too much longer and, just for fun, in the remaining races each driver drives for another team. In my dreams I know, but I reckon viewing figures would quadruple and the BBC commentators would have something to say rather having to over-hype the sad act F1 is returning to during the Schumacher era.

Yes, getting a touch boring now. Best driver in best car ... nolo contendere.

There seems to be no doubt that the Red Bull is the car to drive this season. But how many people would feel this way if Vettel wasn't driving it? I think it quite likely that another car would be the "envy" of the field.

I almost cried when Bernie said on the gridwalk he was trying to secure Valencia for an extended period of time. That just personifies the 'F1 bubble' that is so frequently referenced - how has no one told him that this procession is a terrible advert for motorsport as a whole? With decision making like that and the usual toe curling manner in which he communicates (or not) the race was spoiled before the lights even went out! To think I look forward to the gridwalk...

Whilst on the subject of F1's insular carry on: Why has no one told Vettel in a sincerely serious manner about the finger wagging thing? Button admitted it irked him, note to JB: please place said finger in an imaginative place after Vettel wins at Silverstone.

@27 Love the accurate dissection of the BBC's typical sensationalist approach to their expensively acquired F1 coverage. Ditto poster 32.

@32 Not often we get indycars mentioned, but despite not following said series I was pleased that someone watches thrilling motorsport. I prefer sportscars and get many a kick from honest and exciting races. Such a shame that the so called pinnacle of motorsport is rarely that for the dozens of reasons thrown up by contributors to this article.

Finally, a golden moment on the red button when Brundle forgot he was at work and responded with a hilariously honest retort of a long pause then a wholly unconvincing 'it was alright.....' when asked for his opinion on the race.

Sorry #50 but I miss your point, I said as you quoted me " a lot of the time" I believe my words are true, so what's your point?

Also #50 Alesi won in Canada in 95 and then Berger and Alesi moved to Benetton not Renault

#50 Sorry about multi posting but I would also like to add that I said he as in Schumacher got himself into that situation so your point (if you had one) doesn't really add up!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

@20
"I would also like to point out that this track was just as boring this year as it has been every year, just like Monaco generally is"

Monaco is more of an indurance race than an overtaking race, Valencia doesn't even have that.

The minute the race ended I raced to the car to get to the beach, what a waste of two hours, this has got to be one of the most boring 'circuits' plus C and B seemed to spend the whole commentary talking abour tyres.. Imagine your team telling you to slow down.. Am I missing something here ? Fair play to Lewis for his comment.. boring boring boring.. The rain did make it interesting in Canada. Maybe Bernie wasn't so far out of touch..

If the FIA want to stop RBR domination, they need to adjust a few things.

flexi-wings, RBR front wing is still flexing, watch Vettels Quali lap.

Rake of the car. With the flanges the Red Bull has converted their large flat underside into a large diffuser, the front close to the ground the rear further away forcing the limited air to spread, causing a vacuum effect on the whole rear of the car, they have the largest diffuser on the grid because of this, allowing them to run less wing, or have substantially more rear grip.

So their front and read downforce is substantially ahead, which allowed them to use DRS more confidently in quali to produce their huge gap, and run less wing here for better aero.

so wing flex regs need tightened again, and rake of the car needs limited, to create a more horizontal underbody. The rest of the cars can't just up their rake, as the top of the car would then present all the wrong angles to the air.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

What a shame this season is turning out so one sided. If this continues people will just stop watching, it's in no ones interests - INCLUDING Red Bull to have another Schumacher esque white wash. Back then I got so fed up with his constant winning I stopped watching the sport until he retired. Last season was incredible and Vettel won through in the end and it was a hard fight. This season - there isn't even competition between Vettel and his team mate. The problem is you do not get the impression Vettel is a better drive than the likes of Hamilton or Alonso - he is just in the best car and Webber is clearly past it. F1 needs to learn from close competition like dare I say it, Indycar or the BTCC.

I forgot to mention, the finger thing that Vettel does. IT DRIVES ME NUTS. I now have to turn off about 10 minutes before the end if I even suspect he will win or get pole. Today was so boring I was even praying for an Alsonso win. :(

Why do Brundle_files comments keep getting moderated, I saw NOTHING offensive in the last one.....

BBC once again you have blocked a post which was not offensive.

Well done.

ermmmmm telfonso the king of motorsport comment 41 @16 canchaz
"why you call Alonso and Hamilton the two best drivers in the world Andrew. Neither of them have yet done anything to justify that title and it's hard to say that about Vettel either."

4 world championships between them. Welcome to F1, newbie.

ermmmm its 3 world championships between them two for alonso and 1 for hamilton

telfonso the king of motorsport
my baaad just realise wat u meant i eat my words

OK I'll rephrase my previous posts but say exactly the same things.

Giz. I was finding the finger thing annoying a long time before Button pointed it out.

To get around this I just switch off once the race or qualifying has finished.

It would help if the BBC didn't put a picture of him up with his finger gesture on the main sport page.

The only plus side if Vettel dominates is at least he is a nicer man than Schumacher. Vettel doesn't deliberately knock rivals off the track in an attempt to win the championship. Other drivers don't mysteriously let Vettel by incredibly easily or let him get past using banzai manouvres. The rest of the Schumacher character that is dislikeable you'll have to ask Heinz harald Frentzen about.

#59 - yes, i knew alesi won, his only win, and also in the 27 - forgot - sorry. odd race - two jordans on the podium. and benetton is the same a renault anyway!!

#60 - the way you put it sounded like (i agree you did not say) that he walked into good cars, not that he was instrumental in their development. no offence meant - just wanted to point out the dramatic turn in fortunes for Ferrari when he arrived. like i said - not a fan (i note the reference to H-HF earlier), but boy - he was good. i recall very well the race DC has mentioned twice recently (spa) when he famously claimed that DC had tried to kill him, but he really did drive past other racers on 3 wheels and no wing.

Did Vettel's 'car' win? I fell asleep at about lap 34 and missed the end. How can such high performance vehicles be made to be soooo boring! Indeed, If Vettel genuinely thinks he is the number one driver when waving that finger of his around then he should be put behind a Team Lotus steering wheel next race to prove it.

Season done. At least I can ge tevery other Sunday back now and not turn on in the vain hope a plucky McLaren might do something.

Bernie's idea of artificial rain seems more appealing with every race!

This season reminds me so much of the year that Schumacher won so many races and romped away with the Championship. That was the start of the period I just stoppped watching F1, it just became so predictable.

Poor BBC, when they're looking for a good reason for justifying the £300m they spend on F1, they get this season. I fear viewing figures from this point onwads will wane significantly giving the BBC heads all the ammo they need to end their contract early. F1 on Sky anyone?

Congratulations to Vettel on another superb drive. It's not his fault the European GP was a snooze-fest. The Valencia circuit is dreary. It doesn't produce exciting and interesting racing, and a dusty dockside is not particularly stimulating visually for the television audience. Surely there are better alternatives to consider once its contract expires.

Congratulations Sebastian on another fantastic win, Well done!
As for the race itself, well as previously stated loads of times already it was amazingly boring and I wouldn't be sorry to see Valencia off the calendar in the very near future ( hint, hint, Bernie). As for the finger thing I really don't see the big deal with it, I mean it's just a finger. Get over it!!! I think the real reason for the problem you seem to be having with it is the man it's attached to and his nationality.....

This is not F1, slowing top drivers, gambling and mixing the cars among pitstops, is more a "Desperate Housewife" in a racing program, not interesting for a F1 fan TV viewer.
Button seems to need 2 cars for doing a good job, his and the Safety Car working together.
Hamilton, he proves today everybody was wrong about his driving style, F1 needs speed, not "nursing a car".

@33 Spot on!

I'm not sure why people can't give credit where credit is due, in this case Vettel's?

Also, the constant referencing to the "Glory Days" of Senna and Prost is tiresome. If anyone can remember, those races were usually more tedious than Valencia and always resulted with the driver finishing second putting on a pout during the podium ceremony & complaining of favoritism afterwards.

This was if they weren't trying to drive each other into the wall to clinch a championship...

I think that despite Vettel's dominance this season, we've had several highly entertaining races.

Why do I get the feeling if Hamilton or Button were driving the RB7 there would be a lot less moaning going on? If one of them was getting most of the poles and running away with the race on a Sunday it would be all about how great they are. I seem to remember 2 fingers being pointed by Button on the podium in Canada. I found that amusing and it wasn't doubly annoying. The finger thing is like Vettel's trademark. I for one like Vettel. He seems to have great enthusiasm for the sport and enjoys winning, who wouldn't? If and when he wins the driver's championship, I think he deserves it. Yes, he has the best car but he takes full advantage of that and will be a worthy champion.

I think many people have forgotten that F1 is a team sport. Vettel is one part of a winning team.

@81 the 2 fingers by Button was clearly a joke, that he and his partner/family had decided on...it wasn't what he would do to celebrate a win, it was to take the mick out of Vettel.

on the topic of your whine....would be equally annoyed with the season with any 1 driver just pole to win all season long....that is not racing...get it. We want to watch racing for the win, not a test session. Don't see what the name of the driver has to do with the problem.....m-o-r-o-n.

I happened to find classic F1 racing on YouTube. A lot of talk about great drivers that guy in the Ferrari was pretty good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nxwn3OHkEw&feature=related

Lyda,

I knew it was a joke by button that's why I said I found it amusing. But the fact remains that if Hamilton had won so many races at this point of the season the blogs would have titles like "Is Hamilton the greatest driver of all time?"
There are no such titles for Vettel (rightly so).
All through the history of F1 there have been dominant teams and drivers, this is nothing new. I still stick you my opinion (moronic or not) that if it happened to be a British driver doing it, there would be a lot more glorification of him.

Coorrrr cant wait to go watch some piddly little 4 cylinder turbos ming mong round a track just think of all the fuel we'll be saving :D!!! Back to the V10 900Bhp at 19k revs i say NEEEEOOOOOWN! Formula one seems to be more about looking after tyres, engine, fuel, gearbox than racing! Wheres the fun in that? if i wanna see that ill go for a sunday drive in south Wales and watch biddies toodle around the valleeeeys! I wanna see stuff blow up, innovation, drivers pushing all the way to the line, F1 is supposed to be a pinnacle of motorsport, leading the way, pushing the cars and boundaries to the absolute max, not selecting an engine to cruise mode so you dont spin the rear wheels up fml :(. AND it certainly isnt about banning every interesting and intelligent feature of a car to try and even out performance! I for one do not like the way formula one has headed since about 2007 and very much doubt i will be paying much attention to the rest of this season.

Perhaps it's time F1 was split into two completely different championships: a drivers' championship in which everyone drives the same car with the same specs, and a constructors' championship in which different manufacturers compete to provide the design for the following season...?
This is getting really dull. And yes - Vettel is one of the finest drivers on earth, as his consistent beating of Webber proves. He is Hamilton to Webber's Button.
What a yawn.

"76.
At 00:32 27th Jun 2011, Paul wrote:

Congratulations to Vettel on another superb drive. It's not his fault the European GP was a snooze-fest. The Valencia circuit is dreary. It doesn't produce exciting and interesting racing, and a dusty dockside is not particularly stimulating visually for the television audience. Surely there are better alternatives to consider once its contract expires."

---

Yes they could go back to Bahrain for a 2nd race each year...

==

"84.
At 05:59 27th Jun 2011, lorus59 wrote:

Lyda,

I knew it was a joke by button that's why I said I found it amusing. But the fact remains that if Hamilton had won so many races at this point of the season the blogs would have titles like "Is Hamilton the greatest driver of all time?"
There are no such titles for Vettel (rightly so).
All through the history of F1 there have been dominant teams and drivers, this is nothing new. I still stick you my opinion (moronic or not) that if it happened to be a British driver doing it, there would be a lot more glorification of him."

---

You sire are not a moron as Lyla has branded you. You are in fact absolutely spot on.

Look at 2009, Button was quite dominant then, not as much as Vettel is at the moment but the press were all over him calling him the greatest driver of all time.

It's a shame people like Lyla choose to insult people for having an accurate perception of things.

===

Some of us have been saying for a number of races now that the season should have a fork stuck in it, because it's done, and some people have ridiculed those of us with an informed opinion based on precedent, some even claiming they have an informed opinion whilst those saying the season has been done and dusted as far as the championship goes don't have an informed opinion and are idiots.

I see those same people have now gone rather quiet.

Yep, a boring race and it's now clear that Vettel can breeze through the rest of the season.
Surely aero updates (as urgently requested by JB & LH) would take too long to arrive and may be problematic (I'm thinking of McLaren last year at Silverstone and their blown diffuser, although not technically an update)?
Sad to say that Sunday was boring. All 24 cars finishing is proof also.
At least I can look forward to Silverstone, where the noise and atmosphere makes me care less whose winning!

F1 has never been sooo boring and predicable. Canada was awesome and had an air of excitiment, but i'll be watching Moto GP or Touring Cars from now, totally brillaint, absolutely un-predicable and has na even field.

The person i feel for is Webber, obviously Red Bulls favour Vettel, even at the start of the season, but anywho, ripping up my Silverstone tickets, might watch paint dry, alot more exciting.

3.At 18:58 26th Jun 2011, Vagabond wrote:

"the smug arrogance of F1's youngest ever champion only serves"

...why do you refer him to being arrogant?

Boring, boring, boring!!! This is not good for F1. I stopped watching after 1 hour and went out in the sun!!!

Vettel has been very impressive so far. It's sour grapes to pretend that his success is all down to the car. Webbe drives the same car but can't get the same results.

If LH was running away with the title the way Vettel is, everybody would be saying it shows what a fantastic driver he is. Let's give credit where it's due

>"obviously Red Bulls favour Vettel"

As evidenced by what?

>"If Vettel genuinely thinks he is the number one driver when waving that finger of his around"

By definition if you win the race, you're the number one driver in that race. And if you win the championship, you're the number one driver. end of story.

What is so bad or undesirable about the best driver/car combination winning consistently?

If the Red Bull car is the fastest and best-performing, then it is right and proper that it should win; unlike last year, however, Webber is struggling to match his teammate and so Vettel doesn't have to battle (and lose points to) the Australian.


Button's victory in Canada was 'special' in substantial part BECAUSE he had managed to overcome the dominant Vettel/RBR match-up, just as every driver who beat Schumacher in his prime felt a greater sense of achievement.

>"Button's victory in Canada was 'special' in substantial part BECAUSE he had managed to overcome the dominant Vettel/RBR match-up"

Actually the McLarens were the faster cars in Canada by a good margin. Whether by accident or design, their car was set up perfectly for that track under those conditions. If Hamilton had finished the race he'd almost certainly have had a podium.

@87 & ~84 you really don't think Vettel is getting praise....he is getting too much all year long, and last year...if anything he is spoilt with praise....he barely manages to win a race if he doesn't start pole, and yet he is being classed as the best driver of this and last year....he gets too much praise through being fortunate to be in an Adrian Newey car and team(which have him as #1).

So he is getting spoilt with more praise and admiration than I personally believe he should, and yet you are acting as though the media are being unfair. All the articles about him rate him as best, or in the top 3, all the articles are overly positive praising his wonderful driving...even though ALL the test drivers on a test day easily do exactly what he has needed to do at the majority of the races. His car still has a flexi wing, and uses the entire bottom of the car like a diffuser to create extra downforce through the rake of the car. Smart bits of design, but unfortunately pretty much only on this car.

@3 Vagabond - Spot on mate. SUms up exactly my feelings this year. I watched 2 laps then switched off and even those 2 laps I feel were a waste of time. You can predict the top 5 or 6 every race (bar a little wet weather to spice things up).

To reiterate a comment I made a few weeks ago - If you want to see proper racing, ban communications on the radio to the pit wall. You'll soon see some decent overtaking once the likes of Massa and Vettel have their crutch taken away and are not being told what engine setting for this corner, and what other setting for that part of the race, etc etc. Build a car, use technology, but once it's on track let the driver drive without remote control from the pit lane.

I don't see the off-throttle ban changing much to be honest. Webber is more likely to benefit from this than Ferrari and Mclaren as it might suit his driving style more, but then again, it may not. What F1 needs is for someone to take Vettel off into turn 1 (that is the only place where thry are close enough), then 1. We may see a different winner, and 2. Vettel will have to show how good he is as opposed to how good the Red Bull is.

93.
At 08:22 27th Jun 2011, Twirlip wrote:

>"obviously Red Bulls favour Vettel"

As evidenced by what?

The fact that last season when Webber won a race or 2, he shouts over the radio, "not bad for a #2 driver?" and that Vettel has upgrades to his car that Webber hasn't, Front Wing to name 1.
The fact is when Vettel on a few occastions has crashed into Webber, the team blame Webber when everyone else see's it was Vettel.

Also, that ive asked easily 50 people, and 49 of them dont watch F1 anymore becuase of the cheap and not fully deserved praise and dominance from Vettel. Good on him for winning, but its boring and there are alot more competitive and exciting other sports to watch with air with on the edge stuff and is totally unpredicable!

F1 has gone downhill in all terms, and until things change, myself and alot of others will watch something else.