Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel ready to defend his Formula 1 title in 2011 season
The defending champion Sebastian Vettel said on Saturday that he is anxiously waiting for the season to get underway.
He added that he does not mind to be the man to be beaten in this season.
Sebastian Vettel became the youngest champion when he stole the championship from Fernando Alonso in the final race of 2010 in Abu Dhabi due to Ferrari’s poor pit-stop strategy. He was 23 when he pulled off the championship.
Now before the start of the season he looks very confident of doing this again as 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. one thing is clear: it starts from zero.”
Vettel is looking for a great fight this season but he also was surprised at Alonso’s word that Schumacher will be the hardest stone to move from the track and not Vettel.
Vettel said, “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.”
He also said that there might be a new face coming to claim the victory and surprise the champions.
Vettel had a great rivalry with his teammate Mark Webber when they both crashed cars in Japanese Grand Prix way back in 2007 when Vettel was with Toro Rosso. The crash took both drivers out of the race and strong words were exchanged after the race.
Webber was also in the championship fight for most part of the championship until the last race when Alonso gave Vettel enough points to cross Webber in the points table. But now as it is being said that Webber may retire at the end of the season, Vettel
assumed him a contender for the title as well.
The air between the teammates, Webber and Vettel, is not clear. This season though, might help Red Bull's cause since its good for Red Bull if they have a good relationship.
Vettel started his Formula 1 carrier with BMW Sauber as a reserve driver in 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. He impressed by setting the fastest time in Friday free practice and was given the driver’s seat when Robert Kubica faced a serious crash at the Canadian
Grand Prix. He scored points on the table and became the youngest to do that.
For 2007, he joined Toro Rosso with team mate Sebastian Bourdais. He had a mixed season but bounced back to finish his and Toro Rosso’s best of 4th position. In 2008, he became the youngest to win a Formula 1 grand prix when he was only 21 years
old. His performance earned him a nickname of “Baby Schumi.”
In 2009, he joined Red bull Racing and finished 2nd on the points table behind Jenson Button. He won the championship in 2010 and is still with Red Bull Racing for the 2011 season.
When asked about the practice session he said, “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.”
Vettel also had an issue concerning joining Ferrari but the Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said very clearly that he wants Ferrari’s next driver to be coming from his driver’s academy.
Vettel said that Ferrari is a myth and everybody wants a shot with them but he will stick to Red Bull for a year more.
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