Vettel takes stock of main title challengers

Sebastian Vettel wary of his world championship rivals

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel has singled out two leading challengers to his F1 title, and mentioned two more rivals that could spring a surprise.

“Alonso for sure, and Hamilton is without question one of the best drivers,” the German told Sport Bild during an interview.

But Vettel has also warned rivals and pundits against writing off 2006 Ferrari teammates Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher.

“He (Massa) didn’t have a good season but no one should underestimate him; it’s not so long ago that he was really strong,” said the 23-year-old, referring to Massa’s title challenge of 2008.

And Vettel said the same logic also applies to Schumacher who returned to F1 last year after layoff but has yet to ignite the scene in the fashion he did when racking up seven world titles.

“I think neither of them have forgotten how to drive,” he said. “Schumacher’s history is too great to write him off, and Nico Rosberg has also showed us his strength,” he added.

Vettel also said Jenson Button has unique skills that kept him in last year’s title race, and admitted that his own Red Bull teammate Mark Webber is similarly a threat.

“If our car is good enough, he (Webber) will get involved again.”

On Webber, Vettel said he and the Australian have cleared the air since their 2010 clashes, but admitted that the pair are “not necessarily on the same wavelength”.

Source: YallaF1

Alonso rates rivals and hits back at criticism

Fernando Alonso has given a fascinating insight into how he rates his closest rivals in formula one.

The Ferrari driver was asked by the Spanish sports daily AS to summarise his feelings about challengers Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and his own teammate Felipe Massa.

On world champion Vettel, Alonso answered: "Very fast and precise. If he is coming first in a race, he is difficult to stop."

In the other Red Bull, Mark Webber is "experienced, calm and very consistent. It is very rare to see him fail."

According to Alonso, 2009 world champion Jenson Button "has a great instinct for difficult races in rain or with the safety car. This is an unique talent," he added.

Michael Schumacher had a difficult return to F1 in 2010 but "he is the champion, we all respect him and he is a driver always capable of surprising", 29-year-old Alonso said.

Alonso said his own teammate Massa is "very quick, knows the team and is very hungry to win".

Arguably the highest praise, however, is reserved for Alonso’s former arch nemesis Lewis Hamilton.

"He is a great driver and maybe the fastest at the moment in formula one," he said.

Alonso also hit back at claims that while he is universally rated as perhaps F1’s best driver, he is far from the most popular.

"There are more than 30,000 people here," he marvelled at last week’s Jerez test.

"The people who speak badly about me then tremble and cry when they want to have their picture taken with me.

"There is a difference between how brave people feel writing on the internet, and when I see the admiration I receive all around the world," added Alonso.

"I also think it’s easier to write that there are so many people who are anti-Alonso than to write that 30,000 people came to a test to see me," he said.

Source: Nextgen

Vettel: One thing is clear: it starts from zero

World Champion Sebastian Vettel can't wait for the start of the 2011 season in which he expects the same title rivals as last year

"I can't wait to get back in the car," the Red Bull driver Vettel said in an interview with German Press Agency dpa ahead of next week's start of pre-season testing in Spain.

"Of course it will be a very tough season but you had enough time to prepare for it."

Vettel, 23, became the youngest World Champion in the sport in 2010 when he stole the trophy from Fernando Alonso in the final race due a wrong pit stop strategy from Alonso's Ferrari team.

Vettel said he expects the two-time Champion Alonso to challenge again, along with McLaren and its former Champs Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. He also warned of Marcedes, boasting record Champion Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

"I believe it will be very tight and there will be several candidates ... Fernando will certainly be strong again, but you should not forget McLaren and Mercedes ... And you should not forget that an outsider may make a big step forwards and surprise us," Vettel told dpa.

Vettel said he didn't mind being the man to beat this time around and shrugged off a recent surprise prediction from Alonso who named Schumacher his most dangerous rival, and not Vettel.

"There is always a lot of talk ahead of a season so its good that we are starting soon. You can't really say anything until the tests and first races have taken place," he said.

"The role of being the man to beat is very special for me. I enjoy it a lot but I know it will be tough to keep it. But I will fight from the outset which also means attacking. But one thing is clear: it starts from zero."

Vettel said he kept a healthy balance between the growing commitments of a Champion and rest periods during the off-season and would not be upset if team-mate Mark Webber got the first laps in the new car next week.

The Australian Webber was also in the title race until the last race in 2010 in a sometimes turbulent relationship with Vettel.

"The team decides (who goes out first). You should not make too much out of who drives the first laps. Both drivers will have enough mileage until the first race in Bahrain to start the season equally prepared," said Vettel.

Vettel also said he and the team have learnt from some mistakes last year and that he - at least for now - had no reason to join a more famed team such as Ferrari.

"Ferrari is a myth, just like Mercedes, and every driver wants to race for a myth once in his career. But I am very happy at Red Bull because Red Bull give me the fastest car and I feel very good at the team," Vettel told dpa.

Source: Planet-F1

Massa's Blog: Taking points from Fernando's rivals

I have just arrived in Abu Dhabi, having left Sao Paolo on Monday night and, apart from the fact that I was racing in Brazil, in front of my home crowd, I can think of very little that was the good about the weekend in Interlagos. Qualifying did not go so well and then the problem with the wheel nut during my pit stop meant that my race was effectively over, as I had to come back in on the very next lap to change wheels again. If it had not been for that, I think I could have ended the race in the top five, which would have been a reasonable performance. From that point on, the race was very tough with so many cars in front of me. The situation with the traffic was particularly tricky and confusing. For example, at one point, Rosberg let me pass him and I did not understand why, but I think there was a bit of confusion with some drivers racing each other on the same lap being shown the blue flag by mistake. When the Safety Car came out, the situation got even more complicated. In my opinion, it was better when the rules allowed cars to un-lap themselves when they were behind the Safety Car, as it would have made the racing more interesting. This is especially true when you consider the situation in the championship, because there were at least a couple of backmarkers between Vettel and Webber at the restart and a lot more between Webber and Fernando, so it was not particularly good in terms of the show.

But now, let's look forward rather than back, as it is time for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. This will be a completely new track for me, as I was unable to race here last year, the first time this Grand Prix was on the calendar. I have driven it on the simulator and I have also used a computer game to practice it more at home in Brazil right up to yesterday so that I have as much information as possible, even if it is never the same as actually driving the track itself. Even though I was not racing in 2009, I did attend the Grand Prix and I thought the facility was fantastic. For Ferrari, this is a special event, as the team has strong links with the area through our sponsors Mubadala and Etihad and now there is also the Ferrari theme park, just outside the race track. As we will be staying in Abu Dhabi for a week after the race, when we have the Young Driver test and then the Pirelli test, I hope to get some time to spend at the park, which should be an enjoyable experience. Speaking of the Pirelli test, I am looking forward to it as it will be an interesting experience seeing what differences there are between them and Bridgestone, who have given us such good tyre service over so many years. It will be an important couple of days to get a good idea about tyre behaviour ahead of the winter break.

As for the Grand Prix itself, Ferrari is still in the fight for the Drivers' title and I really hope to be racing at the front, in the middle of the fight between the drivers still involved. If I can score some good points, taking them away from Fernando's rivals, it can be useful for him.

Source: Ferrari.com

Fernando Alonso says rivals should focus on their own problems

Fernando Alonso believes Ferrari's rivals are "trying to divert attention" from their own problems by playing psychological games in the media.

With just two races still to run in 2010 and Alonso leading the championship, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner this week admitted it would be "frustrating" to lose to the Spaniard after the Hockenheim team orders affair.

Stefano Domenicali hit back by suggesting it is a "miracle" the energy drink-owned team has not already wrapped up the title due to its car advantage, and his driver Alonso has now weighed into the squabble.

"There are some favourite teams, who have not resolved their own problems, trying to divert attention," he said in an interview with Diario Sport newspaper.

"Fortunately for us, we are united as a team, as we show at each race, including my relationship with Felipe (Massa). There are always media strategies designed to make you nervous or put you under pressure," added Fernando Alonso.

In another interview, with the O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Fernando Alonso insisted he is not concerned that - as he bids to wrap up his third championship this weekend - his personal image within Brazil is not the best one.

"In several countries they say my image is not good, but when I land at airports or go to the hotels or race tracks, what I see is the opposite. I'm not worried about it. My job is to get results at the track and to have the team happy with my work," Fernando Alonso added.

He said he hopes his teammate Massa's home supporters at Interlagos will understand if the Brazilian pulls aside to let him win the race on Sunday.

"Those who will understand know that this sport is complicated, where at least at Ferrari, the team comes first. There will of course be those who don't understand. But my job is not to understand the views of the fans, but to do my job on the track," said Alonso.

He denied that Felipe Massa is the weakest teammate he has ever had.

"No. Felipe is very capable, 100 per cent professional, working from January to December on his goals," said Alonso.

Source: Auto123

Montezemolo: Massa needs to take points off rivals

Luca di Montezemolo has outlined Felipe Massa's duties for the remainder of the season: to take points off Fernando Alonso's rivals

With four races still be run and a 100 points to play for, Alonso is second in the Drivers' standings, 11 points behind Championship leader Mark Webber. But they are not the only two drivers in the race.

Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button all still have a shot at winning the title with Button in fifth place just 25 points off the pace.

Alonso, though, has an advantage over his title rivals as the Ferrari driver is the only man involved in the chase who can have his team-mate working for him instead of against him.

And that's exactly what Ferrari's president wants Massa to do.

"I have waited for Felipe with great perseverance in the last four races," Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I want a strong Massa who will shave points off the rivals. In Singapore he had some bad luck, but he is in good condition to win.

"Those who race for Ferrari don't race for themselves, but for the Ferrari team colours. One who wants to race for himself will have to face his team."

The Ferrari President also insisted that the Scuderia's decision to put their efforts behind Alonso as early as the July's German GP when they implemented team orders in the Spaniard's favour, has been justified by his run to second place in the Drivers' standings.

"First of all, the decision to focus on Alonso has been proven to be right. He is extremely strong and very close to the team, and has been able to blend in well from day one despite the concerns of some.

"The second is the spirit of determination of the team that has never been broken and disjointed, it has shown great ability to respond and fight back and knows how to win even under pressure.

"The third is to have also focused on people like (Stefano) Domenicali and (Aldo) Costa who have proven be absolutely vital."

Montezemolo pointed to Ferrari's pedigree in recent years as a sure sign that the Scuderia have what it takes to win Championships.

"I've been thinking about one thing and I invite you to do so too: from 1997, if we exclude the year 2005, we either won the Formula 1 World Championship or we lost it in the last race.

"Ferrari has always been team to beat. We won eight Constructors' World Championships in the last ten years, it was important for me to reach the highest levels in Formula 1 this year as well.

"We're second and we will contest the Championships until the very end."

Source: Planet-F1

Rivals conspire to uncover Red Bull secrets - report

Red Bull's three title rivals are conspiring against the team with a common goal -- to rein in the dominance of the RB6 car.

According to Germany's Bild-Zeitung tabloid, the dramatic solution was devised after Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber scored every pole position in 2010 so far, and then pulled even further ahead with developments debuted in Barcelona last weekend.

Bild said the "secret pact" between McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes involves the "exchange of data" about the technical superiority of the latest car designed by Adrian Newey.

Ross Brawn is quoted as saying: "In some areas Red Bull have gone in different directions. Our people are looking at it closely."

And Ferrari's Stefano Domenical is quoted by L'Equipe: "Red Bull has taken a big step forward in performance (in Spain). We saw it Friday and Saturday and with Mark's performance on Sunday.

"This is a reference for us. We are not overstating it but we have to look more carefully at it and understand," he added.

It was earlier wrongly believed that the RB6 was hiding some sort of variable ride-height system, but Bild reveals that one of the actual reasons for the car's competitiveness is the exhausts.

We reported during the February tests that Red Bull had put stickers on the car to make it look like the exhausts were located conventionally, when in fact they were located much lower.

Bild said the lower exhausts, hidden from view by six mechanics on the Barcelona grid, contribute to the car's superior aerodynamics.

It is also reported that Red Bull could begin using a McLaren and Ferrari-like F-duct system at Istanbul in two weeks.

Gerhard Berger told APA: "They are clearly the championship favourites. Even without the air-duct, Red Bull are the fastest."

Source: F1 Complete

Webber: I'm not going to bed thinking about Vettel

Mark Webber has urged that his Red Bull Racing team-mate Sebastian Vettel will be far from his only rival for glory in F1 2010 - even if he reckons the energy drinks-backed outfit's continuity could pay dividends this year...


Mark Webber has insisted that he is not losing any sleep over the challenge he is likely to face from team-mate Sebastian Vettel during the F1 2010 World Championship campaign, arguing that there are 'a lot of quick drivers out there and some pretty good teams' – but acknowledging that continuity is a real feather in Red Bull Racing's cap.

On paper and on the basis of pre-season testing, there appears to be precious little to choose between the four anticipated title protagonists heading towards the curtain-raising Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir this weekend, with Red Bull accompanied by Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes and defending double world champions – in the erstwhile guise of Brawn GP – Mercedes Grand Prix.

Amongst that leading quartet, the internecine duels will be fascinating to watch, with countrymen and the most recent two title-winners Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button facing off at McLaren, giant-killer Felipe Massa returning from injury to take on double world champion Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, record-breaking F1 legend Michael Schumacher aiming to prove that he has lost none of his raw pace or flair up against young compatriot Nico Rosberg at Mercedes – and Webber paired with the highly-rated Vettel at RBR, with the German already holding the distinction of being the top flight's youngest-ever grand prix-winner. Focussing on just one rival, though, the Australian points out, would be dangerous and ill-advised in the extreme.

“A lot of people see my team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, as my biggest rival this year,” the 33-year-old wrote in British newspaper The Guardian. “I have to say that there are a lot of quick drivers out there and some pretty good teams. Seb is going to be a quick driver, no question about it, but I'm not going to bed thinking about him; I'm going to bed thinking about myself and doing the best job I can, to get the best results I can, for myself.”

In 2009, Webber's best results were a brace of victories – his breakthrough F1 triumph in the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring mid-summer, followed by another in the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos close to season's end – as well as six further rostrum finishes that earned the New South Wales native fourth spot in the final drivers' standings following a brief period during which he had threatened to challenge for the title.

He is well aware that more than that will be required if he is to successfully battle for the laurels up against as many as seven adversaries in 2010, but in an age of a number of key rule changes – the most notable being the ban on refuelling, which he suggests will make the initial stages of grands prix 'a bit of a slog' – and driver moves in practically every other team, Red Bull's general continuity, the man from Queanbeyan opines, could well pay dividends.

“There are many things to look forward to in this year's championship,” Webber stressed. “It's good for Red Bull Racing, because we've got a lot of continuity in the team. We're still with Renault engines and, driver-wise, we're very stable. Other teams have changed their driver pairings in some way or another, and these small things can make a difference when Formula 1 is as competitive as it is now.

“Seb and I have worked together, along with our engineers and the technicians from Renault, for some time and this will give us a good advantage. You have traits in engineers and drivers, and it's difficult to learn the system with such limited time. Some drivers have only a handful of days to get ready for the first race, and I think it's going to be interesting when they're under pressure. On race weekends you have to make big decisions at key moments and you don't want to be learning about each other too much at times like that. Continuity is going to be a major strength for us, particularly early on.

“Just by looking at the new cars this season, you can tell that the ban on refuelling is going to cause the biggest change. The cars are like limousines. They're a bit longer because of the need for a larger fuel tank. I'm not particularly bothered by how the cars look – although, saying that, [Red Bull chief technical officer] Adrian Newey has done another fantastic job and the RB6 looks the business – but more important is how the car feels with twice as much fuel on-board. Those early laps in the race are going to be a bit of a slog, but it will be the same for everyone.

“We've got to do a complete race with one tank of fuel, so we need to be looking after the tyres and making sure we understand them. Race strategies will be very different, and the pit-stops even faster than before. Previously each stop was determined by the time it took to get the fuel on-board, taking anything from five-to-eight or nine seconds. Now it's down to simply changing tyres, and the pit crews will be doing that in around three seconds, maybe faster once the pit-stops are refined.”

Source: Crash.net