Vettel - 4 times WDC in 2013?

Interesting quote from Gary Anderson:

" McLaren have lost their strongest asset in Hamilton but Button proved in 2009 that if you give him a car he likes he's a rocket ship and now they only have one driver to listen to.

For the last three years they had two - but Button and Hamilton drive their cars differently, and you have to believe in one driver to follow a development direction. So in some ways Hamilton leaving might help.

F1 should be a contest between Red Bull and McLaren next year - if Ferrari can do anything to get on to the back of them they haven't shown it.

Expect it to be a fantastic battle. "
 
Tenzo said:
That'll be nice for Perez then, with little or no input to the car.
Click to expand...

And you'd expect an unproven driver to be allowed input with a teammate like Button, who's the team going to listen to?

Perez should just be happy he gets to even sit in a McLaren, he's done nothing to justify his move since it was announced.
 
Nismo said:
And you'd expect an unproven driver to be allowed input with a teammate like Button, who's the team going to listen to?

Perez should just be happy he gets to even sit in a McLaren, he's done nothing to justify his move since it was announced.
Click to expand...

Indeed, I hope he delivers though, considering calling my new cat Checo, so I'll have my then to be 2 year old son named Jenson and a cat called Checo. It's going to be fun when the Formula 1 is on next year :D

On a more serious note though, I thought Sergio's drive in Italy was amazing, as well as his drive in Malaysia where I really thought he was going to catch Alonso. Since the announcement that he'll be joining Mclaren next year he's been off the radar somewhat. Maybe it's because he knows he didn't have to try too hard having secured a seat or something, I don't know...
 
smr said:
On a more serious note though, I thought Sergio's drive in Italy was amazing, as well as his drive in Malaysia where I really thought he was going to catch Alonso. Since the announcement that he'll be joining Mclaren next year he's been off the radar somewhat. Maybe it's because he knows he didn't have to try too hard having secured a seat or something, I don't know...
Click to expand...

Personally I think his head went as soon as he signed, and he can't wait to get out of Sauber quick enough.

He was even shown in the paddock chatting to Mclaren employees after Sunday's race, surprised he didn't already have the team kit on :p
 
Nismo said:
Personally I think his head went as soon as he signed, and he can't wait to get out of Sauber quick enough.

He was even shown in the paddock chatting to Mclaren employees after Sunday's race, surprised he didn't already have the team kit on :p
Click to expand...

lol yeah I'd thought that too.
 
Too late for much input for the 2013 car, it would just be set up work during the race weekends any way.
 
Nismo said:
And you'd expect an unproven driver to be allowed input with a teammate like Button, who's the team going to listen to?

Perez should just be happy he gets to even sit in a McLaren, he's done nothing to justify his move since it was announced.
Click to expand...

Mclaren do not operate a 1-2 setup so his feedback should be considered.
 
Tenzo said:
Mclaren do not operate a 1-2 setup so his feedback should be considered.
Click to expand...

I think in this case Perez is a clear number 2, even Mclaren themselves have said they aren't sure of his level.

You think Heikki or Coultard were considered equal to Hamilton or Hakinnen? Perhaps no coincidence that when Mclaren have a number 1 driver they win things, maybe now with Perez there is a shift back to that?
 
Nismo said:
I think in this case Perez is a clear number 2, even Mclaren themselves have said they aren't sure of his level.

You think Heikki or Coultard were considered equal to Hamilton or Hakinnen? Perhaps no coincidence that when Mclaren have a number 1 driver they win things, maybe now with Perez there is a shift back to that?
Click to expand...

Well it will be interesting to see whether they maintain their current mantra of equal drivers etc, or whether they shift their model.

I agree, it makes more sense for Button to be no.1 but Mclaren have been all about equality recently (at least publicly)
 
Mr Men said:
Since when?

If one driver is dominant then McLaren will back them, just like they did in the past.
Click to expand...

To be clear, I am referring to Hamilton/Button

Well perhaps I misinterpretated Whitmarsh then. I am absolutely positive I have seen/read/heard that Mclaren would not operate team orders as both drivers were on equal footing. Moving over was left to driver disgression.

This was their public stance and I at least got the perception that Whitmarsh liked how it set Mclaren apart from Red Bull/Ferrari. To be fair, it never truly got tested for LH/JB though did it (as best I can remember).
 
Tenzo said:
To be clear, I am referring to Hamilton/Button

Well perhaps I misinterpretated Whitmarsh then. I am absolutely positive I have seen/read/heard that Mclaren would not operate team orders as both drivers were on equal footing. Moving over was left to driver disgression.

This was their public stance and I at least got the perception that Whitmarsh liked how it set Mclaren apart from Red Bull/Ferrari. To be fair, it never truly got tested for LH/JB though did it (as best I can remember).
Click to expand...

Lewis and Jenson were on equal footing within the team, Jenson had just won the WDC with Brawn and had a brilliant season.

He also came into the team having had years upon years of experience in Formula 1 tasting all the highs and the lows that the sport had to offer.

Perez, on the other hand, has not been in Formula 1 for long and hasn't won a WDC nor has he got the same level of experience.

Therefore Mclaren will of course be operating a no.1 and no.2 status within the team with Jenson being someone that Perez can learn from.
 
Yep, I get your points and as I said, it would make sense to have Button no.1

It will be interesting seeing how Whitmarsh handles it with the media.
 
Tenzo said:
Yep, I get your points and as I said, it would make sense to have Button no.1

It will be interesting seeing how Whitmarsh handles it with the media.
Click to expand...

But I don't see what there is to handle, the media (take Sky for example - I'm sure it was Simon) asked Jenson post Brazil how he felt heading into next year being the "undisputed number 1 driver".

So the media already know as does every man and his dog.

The reason why people asked so much last time was because Mclaren had what you could call two heavyweight drivers, now they've got a heavyweight and lightweight.
 
smr said:
if Ferrari can do anything to get on to the back of them they haven't shown it.
Click to expand...

Yeah they have.
They have shown that they can't produce a car to match RBR, but they have Alonso. As long as you have him on your team, you have a chance.

Personally, (I know its ridiculously early to be saying this, but) I'm expecting Vettel to break some records next year - I'm expecting RBR to make a fanastic car. RBR got caught out in the first half of 2012, but next year I can't see that happening. Next year I think RBR will win from the get go. McLaren will probably make a faster car than Ferrari, but then McLaren don't have an Alonso.

A ridiculously early prediction for next year:
1. Vettel
2/3/4. Alonso/Button/Kimi (in no particular order)

RBR are a great team, from top to bottom and Vettel knows how to punish his rivals when he has the best car.

And I keep forgetting about Kimi. This guy did fantastically well this year. I would go so far as to say that this was his best year. His car was not as fast as Alonso's, yet he finished just 1 place off him in the WDC. If he was at RBR, I dare say that with a bit a luck, he may have beaten Vettel. :eek:

What's also interesting is that the top 5 drivers in F1 are all now driving for different teams.

Alonso
Vettel
Hamilton
Kimi
Button

....all are now No.1 drivers for their respective teams. In theory, this is a recipe for excitement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom