Now that’s what I’m talking about! Thank you, boys.
It’s one of the phrases that have become the hallmark of a man who has made the Formula One world sit up and take notice. The others involve learning, step-by-step, taking nothing for granted, and we want to win.
On Sunday at Suzuka, Japan, Sebastian Vettel beat Fernando Alonso’s record of youngest double world champion at 25 and 85 days.
At just 24 years and 98 days, Vettel also outstripped other consecutive winners Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jack Brabham, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen. Some huge names there.
Suddenly, wise people in the paddock are paying attention. Niki Lauda, who once asserted Schumacher’s record seven world titles, 91 wins and 68 pole positions would never be broken, said it was possible for Vettel to do the previously unthinkable.
Frankly, it’s astonishing it’s taken so long. This remarkable German already holds a host of records of his own: the youngest participant in F1, the youngest to score points (in his maiden race in the US in 2007), the youngest race leader (Japan 2007), and the youngest pole starter and winner (Monza 2008).
There are (knowledgeable) detractors who put his success down to the sensational Red Bull Racing RB7, or the fact that he has spent so long in front of the pack that he hasn’t had to fight in the midfield to prove he has the racecraft to be among the greats.
Bunk.
The car, designed by the genius Adrian Newey, is brilliant. But this year it has been especially brilliant in the hands of Vettel. Last year’s title race was a belter, with four drivers going into the last race with a chance to become world champion. The 2010 car had an average 0.386 advantage over all the others. This year it was down to 0.144. And he still put in those blinding qualifying laps to claim pole 12 times this year alone.
Why is Vettel, at so young an age, being heralded as Schumacher’s successor as the benchmark?
Schumacher
Schumacher was the first of a new breed of racers and the young man, who was just five when the older German won his first grand prix in 1992, has soaked up – and improved – the master’s ways.
Take it as a given that the young man has natural talent. The evidence was laid clearly on the track when he gave Toro Rosso its one and only pole and victory in Monza in 2008.
Monza was wet. And Vettel danced his way through the puddles to set the fastest time in qualifying. In the first few laps, he was about two seconds faster than any car on the track. He never looked back.
This was the race that first really showed his feel, his focus, his speed. It was a race won on merit, not through any intervention other than skill behind a wheel.
In 2009 he joined the Red Bull mothership and finished runner-up to Jenson Button in the championship.
But 2010 was a tough year. He and the team lost many points because of technical problems and driver error. There was tension after that nerve-graunching crash with Mark Webber. Vettel was at fault. But his initial crazy gesture to Webber and the team subsequently backing the German caused a rumble in the press and anger from Webber. The Australian was also made to give his updated wing to Vettel at Silverstone. It didn’t help – Webber won and made his famous quip: “not bad for a number two driver”.
McLaren team boss called Vettel the Crash Kid after he hit Button, taking them both out of the race at Spa. The media climbed into him.
The title was still undecided when the circus went to the final race in Abu Dhabi. The expectation was that Alonso would win, with Webber and Lewis Hamilton his closest competition. Vettel, with four wins for the year, was an outside chance.
Ferrari were watching the wrong man when they called Alonso in for a tyre change to cover Webber and the pair of them came out way down the field at a track where overtaking was near impossible.Vettel streaked ahead in the front.
For the last 10 laps he was accompanied by a silent radio. He didn’t know what was happening behind him; he took the chequered flag … only after the other points-scorers had crossed the line did his engineer, Guillaume “Rocky” Rocquelin, yell “you are the weltmeister!”
Vettel just sobbed back. There were more tears on the podium, and a gathering of emotions in the press conference. Words were difficult for the normally eloquent youngster. The first time in the season he had led the championship points was when he crossed the line. When it mattered.
The next week was busy: he went back to the Red Bull HQ in Milton Keynes to thank the team, followed by press conferences and PR appearances. He took it in his stride, beaming that wide grin.
Then it was back to Abu Dhabi to test the new Pirelli tyres. Few other top drivers bothered. For them the winter holiday had begun.
But not for the 2010 world champion. He was also the only driver to take up the invitation from the new F1 tyre supplier to come and learn what they were all about. Vettel spent a day there just before Christmas. He questioned the engin-eers and management about the whole organisation, never mind just the tyres. Pirelli boss Paul Hembery was impressed.
He noted later that Vettel asked a lot of detailed questions. Hembery also noted that the only other driver to ask so many questions was another, older, driver.
Red Bull delayed testing their car in 2011 because it wasn’t ready. In a new era where testing opportunities are few, it was a brave decision. But it paid off in Australia when Vettel stormed to a win. And again. And again. Nine times this year – so far. He’s the only driver to finish every race and has only been off the podium (fourth in Germany) once. His team’s performance has been immaculate, as has his driving.
Steering
He manages over- and understeer with a light touch on steering wheel and throttle. The car balance and set-up must be good, but he manages imperfections.
He needed just one point from Suzuka to clinch the title, but scored 15.
That’s the story so far. Now the questions are how and why is he already being hailed as the man who will break Schumacher’s records?
There’s his age. Then there’s the hunger, determination, focus, intelligence, analysis and sheer hard work. Fans love the boy-next-door, unassuming, witty character that has not been changed by success.
When he’s at work, he allows no distractions. His long-time girlfriend, Hanna Prater, with whom he lives in Switzerland, is never at the races. You don’t bring your partner to work, he says. He spends hours with the engineers, asking questions, learning about every detail he believes will give him any advantage. He gets furious if he thinks he’s left anything on the track.
His drive spurs on his team to get as close to perfection as he expects of himself. They have eliminated mistakes and pride themselves on their superslick and quick pitstops.
Not only is he a driver: he’s an F1 fan. It is his passion to be there and has been quoted a number of times as saying he would do it for no salary. He doesn’t have a manager: direct talks with the team keep it simple.
He spends hours, nay, days, analysing the pieces of paper showing ragged lines that describe his performance in the car. Every braking manoeuvre, every throttle and steering input. His team bosses, principal Christian Horner and Newey, both speak highly of his brightness and work ethic.
But it’s when he pulls on his helmet that all these are visible: that gloriously refreshing, joyous man doing what he loves best goes quiet. The laughing glint in his eyes get steely. There’s only one thing left to do – that’s win.
* Slogrove writes Formula One columns, Chequered Flag for the Daily News and Fast Lane for The Independent on Saturday