Sebastian Vettel - Two world champs; two different opinions
At the time when everyone out there is debating the ‘skills, talent and attitude’ of the new world champion, Sebastian Vettel, two former world champs also have their say, although thinking very differently from each other.
Jacques Villeneuve, the title winner of the 1997 season believes that Vettel is being praised far too much while the young lad still needs to learn a lot. On the other hand, the four-time world champion Alain Prost, announces very gladly that he has become
a ‘fan’ of Vettel after having spent some time with the energetic boy, at the ‘Race of Champions’ event.
The Red Bull driver has bagged the first championship of his career, in the beginning of November after having fought a very intense and critical fight between the top five drivers of the 2010 season. With this title, he has not only become the youngest
world champion in 60 years of the sport but has also made several other records, in his brief career.
While commenting about the 23-year-old, Villeneuve said he although he does not disagree that he has got potential but he firmly believes that the racer still needs to learn a lot more.
He explained saying, "He's very fast but I feel he has trouble controlling his emotions. I saw him raising a finger to the stewards in the pitlane and I find it hard to comprehend doing that at this level, that's more like a little kid.”
Moreover, the Canadian reckons that it is Vettel's employer, Red Bull, which has actually pampered the kid far too much. "He's been treated the same for his whole career. At 14, he knew already that he would be brought into F1. When he makes a mistake, he
is told 'no, you did nothing wrong, everything is fine'. We'll see how he reacts now (as champion)," he added.
On the other hand, all that Prost can think of, at the moment, is the good time he had with the budding driver. While talking to the media the former champion said that although Vettel is very young yet he is very mature for his age. The Frenchman continued
telling that there is ‘a freshness, an enthusiasm’ in the boy that is splendid, and is rarely found in young F1 drivers these days.
He concluded saying, "That's one thing that surprises me: you don't feel the passion in some drivers, it's like they're there just for the business… Like everyone else, I was a bit critical when I saw the mess he created on some occasions. But in a driver
with such panache and character, it is difficult to contain. You might have judged differently in the middle of the season, but - at the end - we can say 'bravo'.”
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