That coveted maiden title is something all youngsters dream about. Another is a victory around the principality of Monaco, undoubtedly F1's duel in the crown. With more than a hint of good fortune, Vettel successful won his first Grand Prix around the Monte Carlo streets a little under two months ago. There is just one more race he needs to add to his glittering CV: his home event.
He scored a respectable eighth for Toro Rosso in 2008 and took pole last year by the narrowest of margins from Fernando Alonso, only to be usurped by both Ferrari's at the start. However, that was at Hockenheim, and this year Vettel returns to the famous Nurburgring. Although not a match for its bigger brother, the fearsome Nordschleife, the 2010 champion will desperate for a first victory on home soil. Second here in 2009, he will be aiming for one better on Sunday.
His nearest rivals are no longer the Mclaren's and it is the resurgent Alonso who will be hunting down Vettel from now on. A dogged competitor, the Spaniard took Ferrari's first win of the year at Silverstone and it promises to be the first of many. The momentum is now with the Prancing Horse, who on race, are a match for the Red Bulls. Alonso was able to showcase their upturn in performance superbly in the immediate aftermath of Vettel's stop, reminding us all of the old Renault days when Alonso would sprint off into the distance. Held up by Lewis Hamilton he was, but Vettel could not eat into Alonso's advantage of around 16 seconds.
Moreover, and more worryingly for Red Bull, the Spaniard was only a tenth shy off Mark Webber's pole lap at Silverstone. If Alonso can spoil Red Bull's rampant qualifying displays, and replicate his race pace speed, they might have no answer for him. Like Silverstone, the Nurburgring is a 'Red Bull' tracked, renowned for its sweeping medium to high speed corners, particularly in sector two. Those anticipating a Red Bull lockout may now think otherwise. He may be 92 points behind, but it takes the pressure off the 2005 and 2006 world champion. He is now the hunter; and there is no more dogged competitor than a resurgent, ruthless Alonso.
Speaking of resurgence, Webber's recent improvement was curtailed in the closing stages of the British Grand Prix rather inauspiciously. As he homed in on Vettel, who was suffering tyre problems, Webber sensed blood and a golden opportunity to not only outrace, but outscore his team mate for the first time in 2011. Ordered to hold station to preserve position, the Australian refused, and pushed Vettel to the very end. Team orders are a touchy subject in the Red Bull motorhome, such is their emotional ties with Sebastian, but Mark will at last feel he has achieved parity, certainly pace wise.
His improvement began in Valencia, even if he was beaten by Alonso on race day, and took his second pole of the season at Silverstone, benefitting from the one-race modifications to the exhaust-blown diffusers. For Webber, managing the Pirelli's was a continuous thorn in his championship challenge. He may not close in on Vettel this year and will probably have to settle for being the bridesmaid again, but equalling his team mate for the remainder of the year will do him no harm especially if, as many believe, he will be given a new deal for 2012. He took an emotional maiden pole and win here in 2009, along with his first Red Bull podium in 2007, and will see this famous circuit as the perfect location to steal Vettel's thunder.
Those hoping for a Mclaren fightback, reminiscent of their last visit to the Nurburgring, may e left disappointed. In 2009, after a woeful opening to the season, Mclaren arrived with a rapidly improved car. This year, in what is a quick car, they have just not been fast enough, or lucky enough, to compete with Red Bull and Hamilton and Jenson Button find themselves almost out of contention. Should the heavens open, as we saw at Silverstone, Hamilton will be poised to prove on equal footing he is the best out there. If we seeing conditions resembling 2007, Button will be in his element. Yet this reliance on changing conditions indicate the current troubles at Mclaren, who seem to be floundering as Ferrari are now the second quickest team.
They may even be usurped by Mercedes, who will look to do well at their home event. With just three podium finishes since their arrival in 2010, the Silver Arrows will be expecting much from Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. The top eight seems likely for the pair, and like Mclaren, will be hoping for the heavens to open.
Although the current Grand Prix circuit, opened in 1984, is not a patch on the historic Nordschleife racetrack, classic memories are endless. Think back to Juan Pablo Montoya's pass around the outside of Schumacher's Ferrari, putting the then five-time world champion into a spin in 2003. Kimi Raikkonen's suspension failure on the final lap in 2005 cost him victory, but will live long in the memory.
In 2007, Markus Winklehock led his home Grand Prix on his debut, in a Spyker, by half a minute only for the red flag to intervene on his heroics, while in the closing stages we witnessed that now famous battle between Alonso and Felipe Massa. Their spat prior to the podium is now steeped with irony, given they are team mates at Ferrari these days. Then of course there is 2009 and Webber's inaugural victory in F1. With rain threatening both for qualifying and race day, another classic beckons.
Josh.
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