Does anyone actually like Vettel?

[Jasandjules]

Yes I do.

Always remember watching him leading a race, then the radio call "Who has fastest lap?" - reply "Dont even think about it"... Then purple sectors.......

He is sarcastic with reporters too... His command of English is superb.

He is quite reserved - watch Ted trying to get him to say he could afford X expensive bike etc, he is not drawn in. And he keeps his privat elife private - good.

I think I would greatly enjoy spending an evening having drinks and dinner with him as a person to just talk to.

[DanielSan]

I struggle to see how people don't like him to be honest. That said we have seen a slightly different Vettel this last couple of years, the pressure at Ferrari must be immense.

[Durzel]

Mr. White said:

I think it's largely that his arrogance during those RB years wasn't warranted given the car advantage he enjoyed.

Such arrogance was never going to make him likeable, but it was compounded by the above.

That's a fair point I think. RBR was leagues ahead of everyone at the time. But - for me - Hamilton was pretty insufferable during that era too, complaining publicly about "the spectacle suffering". He was right, but it's a charge that could just as easily be levelled at him/Merc now.

I'm prepared to write off that aspect of Hamilton, and indeed Vettel, to them being hyper competitive and by necessity believing themselves to be "best of the best".

I agree with what has been said above regarding him being different in recent times too.

[SeeFive]

I struggle to think of any current driver I dislike. I think that certain drivers’ capabilities vary, and some attitudes stink on track, but off track they are all different but generally decent human beings.

It is tough today to be a James or a Gerhard given the value of sponsors, potential reputational repercussions of a misjudgement and constant immediate scrutiny that today’s social media brings. Whilst I do not rate Seb in the very top echelon on track when it comes to racecraft, now he seems to be a professional or fun guy off circuit when the circumstances require or offer it, but on circuit... well let’s say he does seem to have some issues to round off - not at a Max level though thankfully.

People have referenced his top gear appearance, I would add to that a number of press conferences and interviews showing his wit and fun side. Yes, I would like a beer with the guy just on that basis, and nothing to do with his chosen career, but I would let the multi millionaire buy the first one.

[sparta6]

Jasandjules said:

Yes I do.

Always remember watching him leading a race, then the radio call "Who has fastest lap?" - reply "Dont even think about it"... Then purple sectors.......

He is sarcastic with reporters too... His command of English is superb.

He is quite reserved - watch Ted trying to get him to say he could afford X expensive bike etc, he is not drawn in. And he keeps his privat elife private - good.

I think I would greatly enjoy spending an evening having drinks and dinner with him as a person to just talk to.

+1

Great sense of humour.

Will have many friends long after he retires from F1.

[sparta6]

DanielSan said:

I struggle to see how people don't like him to be honest. That said we have seen a slightly different Vettel this last couple of years, the pressure at Ferrari must be immense.

Immense pressure.

Bigger than being the England footy team manager

[ghost83]

I like Vettel although I hated him at red bull

When he moved to Ferrari he’s been more raw in his racing and I’ve warned to him!

Not really a Hamilton fan if I’m honest since he partnered jenson button! I remember how Hamilton really didn’t cope under pressure from jb! Hamilton has dropped on lucky at Mercedes I’d like to see how he would fair in slightly lesser machinery

[geeks]

I prefer him since he moved to Ferrari he seemed to be given the freedom to open up a little, I think dropping into a less than dominant car humbled him a little. He also has a very, very dry whit that I enjoy. Schumacher was another, I really warmed to him when he returned to Merc, he just went about like a club racer with an F1 contract

[yoshisdad]

I've warmed to him since going to Ferrari.
He strikes me as someone who actually loves F1. He does not think that F1 started when he joined the circus. I remember watching a live interview with him when he'd won his 2nd or 3rd championship and the interviewers showed him a montage of the drivers he was listed amongst, including Ascari, Stewart, Brabham etc. He got quite emotional and you could definitely see he understood the privilege of his name being amongst that calibre of drivers.
I could imagine that if he wasn't a F1 driver, he'd be a supporter paying to see the spectacle. Not all drivers come across that way...

[Durzel]

yoshisdad said:

I could imagine that if he wasn't a F1 driver, he'd be a supporter paying to see the spectacle. Not all drivers come across that way...

Spot on, I think you (and others) hit on exactly why I like the guy. I can imagine, and would enjoy I'm sure, to have a beer and a chat about the history of motorsport and know that he felt as passionate about all aspects of it as I did.

[ghost83]

I also liked the way he was stirring the pot with rosberg and Lewis I’m surprised he hasn’t jumped on the wingman bandwagon to destabilise merc unless he’s wanting to go to merc next when ham retires

[DanielSan]

Durzel said:

Spot on, I think you (and others) hit on exactly why I like the guy. I can imagine, and would enjoy I'm sure, to have a beer and a chat about the history of motorsport and know that he felt as passionate about all aspects of it as I did.

I can't remember where I heard/read something a while ago but it pretty much said there's only 2 or 3 genuine fans of the sport in F1. Vettel, Magnussen and possibly one other. The rest of the drivers want to race, or at least most do but have no real interest in the history of the sport to the degree those two do.

[Bullitt Five-Oh]

ghost83 said:

unless he’s wanting to go to merc next when ham retires

I though there were talks of him wanting to join Merc or Merc wanting him to join them. I think that's one of the reasons Toto "I bless the rains down in Africa" Wolff always remains neutral/praises him somewhat when he speaks about him.

[Bullitt Five-Oh]

DanielSan said:

Vettel, Magnussen and possibly one other.

Yeah that other one would be Grosjean. That'd be a perfect motley crew (maybe replace Vettel with Perez)..

[768]

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

Toto "I bless the rains down in Africa" Wolff

[HTP99]

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

ghost83 said:

unless he’s wanting to go to merc next when ham retires

I though there were talks of him wanting to join Merc or Merc wanting him to join them. I think that's one of the reasons Toto "I bless the rains down in Africa" Wolff always remains neutral/praises him somewhat when he speaks about him.

That really made me chuckle.

As you were!

[Vaud]

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

DanielSan said:

Vettel, Magnussen and possibly one other.

Yeah that other one would be Grosjean. That'd be a perfect motley crew (maybe replace Vettel with Perez)..

I think Leclerc has a passion given his historic connections.

[skinny]

DanielSan said:

I can't remember where I heard/read something a while ago but it pretty much said there's only 2 or 3 genuine fans of the sport in F1. Vettel, Magnussen and possibly one other.

Don't know why but I find that very surprising re Magnusson.

I like Vettel. I was at Sauber when he was a tester, he was (literally) just a kid in a sweet shop. I remember his first year as test driver he got in the Sauber at Japan in FP1 and just kept his foot in at 130R, whilst most others were backing off. He was quickest through the speed traps. And he tried to teach me German a few times on the Saturdays when he wasn't driving.

Even when he left for red bull, he kept saying hi for a few years when we crossed even tho we hardly spoke

[anonymous-user]

Yep, me. So he gets a bit upset from time to time, but he's a winner and winners don't like losing. Off track he's extremely likeable and has the best sense of humour of any German I've ever met. I feel a bit sorry for him this year. He's got the weight of Italy on his shoulder and is up against one of the greatest ever at the peak of his career ... it cannot be easy. Hamilton has a lot of respect for him and that says a lot to me too.

Reminds me of Schumacher and Hakkinen... they were fierce rivals, but they both respected one another.

[TheLimla]

Yeah Seb's alright, has a good sense of humour, love the press conference where he took the mick out of Fred complaining about Rosberg!