The Official Sebastian Vettel Fan Support Group Thread

[jens]

The might has fallen. Let's embrace the new era with new contenders.

The psychological, also physical/endurance/exhaustion side of a sportsman is certainly interesting as well. For years you are consistently at the top, able to get a good run and challenge. Then a new year starts with lots of car problems, the car being not so good, team-mate being too good. You fight an uphill battle, such uphill you have never faced in your career and you break, run out of steam you can't take it any more. The recent races have been really unimpressive by Vettel. At least earlier in the season he could genuinely compete with Ricciardo, often let down by reliability, but now he is just not fast.

By the way, Hülkenberg is also going through slump. The same Hulk, who had a stunning second half of 2013 in the Sauber. I still remember him qualifying 3rd at Monza in the Sauber. Now he was nowhere in Force India. Well, just as another example of a slump and ups-and-downs. Interestingly I see some similarities between Vettel and Hulk. People often say that Vettel is only good in a good car, but there is some deeper reasoning IMO. Vettel was good in 2008 midfield STR. And in many periods Hulk has been good in midfield cars though he never had top cars. It seems there are certain car characteristics they struggle with. Also both Vettel and Hulk (2012, 2013) have often been particularly impressive in the second half of seasons, but not the case in 2014... The "twin-stuff" reminds me of Button and Heidfeld - I always maintainted those two drivers were somewhat similar...

Maybe it will be good for Vettel. To start 2015 as an underdog without many expectations - an average driver in a (most probably) pretty good(ish) car. 2014 is a lost cause. Bye for 2014. Eyes for 2015 to relax and recharge the batteries. Oh, and during 2014 we haven't seen the finger for a single time. Though a couple of quali sessions have been close to P1...