Sebastian Vettel was fastest out the blocks in the latest testing in Jerez, and after an impressive 2009, the German looks set to crash the championship-contender-party once again in 2010.
Vettel and his Red Bull team were the surprise packages of 2009; the German came second overall last season, and he looks like the brightest young prospect in the sport. He set a precedent in his first full season racing for the Red Bull feeder team, Toro Rosso. He was the youngest driver to record a win when he took the chequered flag in the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, and then almost destroyed Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of winning a championship by overtaking the Englishman one lap before the end of the final race, the Brazilian Grand Prix.
His performances for Toro Rosso earned the German a seat in the Red Bull car for 2009 and they were surprisingly competitive. It became a two-horse race between the Brawn boys and the Red Bull team as the season progressed. By the end of the campaign Vettel had taken eight podiums including four wins and had the season been a few races longer then Vettel could have taken home the big shiny championship trophy; instead it went to Jenson Button.
So far in pre-season, all eyes have been on fellow German Michael Schumacher and Vettel can be compared to the driving maestro in more ways than one. Like Schumacher he impressed at a young age and has that same steely determination about him. Both can get the best out of their cars, and they thrive on chasing down a driver like a hunter going after its prey. With these comparisons it’s no surprise that Vettel is known as “Baby Schui” in his native land.
This year there are four former champions lining up on the starting grid: Schumacher, Hamilton, Button and Fernando Alonso. But Vettel is still very much the dark horse for the season. At 23 he is still a young driver but now has a couple of years of experience under his belt and it would be foolish to write him off.
Vettel posted a time of 1:22.593 in Jerez yesterday, some 0.424 seconds in front of Hamilton. That time shows that Red Bull should be competitive again next season. Teammate Mark Webber said the other day that they only did minor changes and the car was looking good, after a late unveil they are now starting to prove that they are still quick. In 2009 a lot of teams misinterpreted the new rules and a lot of the cars weren’t up to scratch, this year Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull should all be there or thereabouts, making for an exciting season.
The 2010 season was always going to be about a German, however it might not be the one most people would automatically think of.
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