Four world titles, 53 race victories. Only 33 years young. One impressive career, changing the face of history in motorsport. Sebastian Vettel will certainly go down as one of the greats but I can’t help but think has he lost his mojo? Is his luck running out for him to return to the top?
In September 2020, it was announced that Vettel would drive for Aston Martin (formally Racing Point) for the 2021 season. Certainly seemed exciting as he was given another opportunity to prove himself, retirement wasn’t an option.
Even the livery was looking promising for the new and up and coming team, holding out hope that they could be one of the top…. I mean it’s Aston Martin? A company with such heritage and a ‘need for speed’ you would be expecting great things, but all hopes were quickly dashed as it certainly hasn’t been the 2021 launch they were hoping for, yet to score any points this season.
Yes it will take him time to get used to the workings of the car, no doubt but remember this is a driver who in 2010, became the youngest World Championship winner of all time with Red Bull after beating Fernando Alonso, Webber and Lewis Hamilton to the title with 256 points in a thrilling four-way battle, victory at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, giving him a rather historic first piece of silverware. Surely this sort of talent can’t be overlooked?
Let’s look at some of the highlights of his F1 career:
Vettel got his big break in Formula 1 at the 2007 United States Grand Prix, asked by BMW Sauber, replacing Robert Kubica who was recovering after a major crash the previous year.
At the time, Vettel became the youngest driver to take part in an F1 weekend (Succeeded by Max Verstappen 2015). He finished P8 on his debut and was soon snapped up by Red Bull, placing him in their Junior team at Toro Rosso, replacing Scott Speed onwards for the Hungarian GP.
That same year, the Japanese GP provided one of the earliest talking points, just starting out in his career. Racing in very heavy rain and misty conditions, Sebastian was on the cusp of the top three when he crashed with future team – mate Mark Webber, racing for Red Bull. Vettel finished P4 following race in China, ending his first season with six World Championship points.
Vettel was kept by Toro Rosso for the 2008 season and, at the Italian Grand Prix, became the then youngest ever Formula 1 race winner at the age of 21, giving Toro Rosso their first ever race win. After finishing the season in P8 with 35 points, he was promoted to the Red Bull senior team to David Coulthard’s seat, retiring from the sport.
2009 brought a further four Formula 1 victories, but he fell short of winning the World Championship title being pipped to the post, finishing runner-up to Jenson Button.
With four races of the season remaining in 2011, Vettel became the youngest ever double World Champion and also the youngest back-to-back champion. He finished the season with 392 points, 122 points clear of nearest rival Button.
Four consecutive race wins in Singapore, Japan, South Korea and India brought Vettel back strongly into title contention in 2011. He battled a P6 finish, enough to secure a third World Championship, just three points ahead of Alonso.
2013 saw Vettel become the fourth driver in Formula 1 history to win four consecutive World Championship titles and did so with a relentless nine-race winning streak from round 11 in Belgium to round 19 in Brazil – the final race of the season, gaining 397 points in the process.
2014 would be the end of his winning streak with Red Bull, failing to win any race throughout the season and was outscored by new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo. Vettel did have another year on his contract, but 2015 would see Vettel fulfilling a childhood dream by signing with Ferrari.
Vettel claimed his first win for Ferrari in only his second race for the Scuderia at the Malaysian Grand Prix and in Hungary and Singapore, two other victories followed. However, it would not be enough for Vettel to become a title contender as Mercedes continued their firm hold on Formula 1.
A frustrating season in 2016 would follow next for Vettel as Ferrari slipped down the pecking order behind both Mercedes and Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings. A P4 finish with 212 points – a low point in Vettel’s Ferrari career.
In 2017 and 2018, he redeemed himself but could still only finish runner-up to Hamilton on both occasions of the championships. 2017 ended with five wins and another five victories and 320 points the following year.
In 2019 saw Vettel once again beaten by a new team-mate in Charles Leclerc. A solitary win in Singapore was not enough to prevent Vettel from slipping into P5 in the standings with 240 points. it turned out, that was the beginning of the end, as Ferrari confirmed Vettel’s days were numbered, his contract not being renewed for 2021 before the 2020 season had even began.
On track the results were disappointing for Vettel, struggling to get anywhere close to team-mate Leclerc, hinting at times that the team were giving him inferior machinery. Ferrari would slip to P6 in the Constructors’ Championship, while Vettel himself finished the season in P13 in the Drivers’ Championship.
Vettel managed to take a podium finish at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, taking advantage of a late error from his team-mate, across 17 races Vettel made points six times.
As the 2o21 race season continues, I hope Aston Martin find momentum and get to the root cause of the underperformance issues for all the teams’ sake but it’s also rather unfortunate that Sebastian has came in with his sights set on success again but neither of the drivers can make it past qualifying. Time will tell.
What’re your thoughts on Seb’s future? Let us know on FormulaNerds socials or in the comments below!
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