It’s official. Fernando Alonso’s triumph at the British Grand Prix was deemed an anomaly, but following Lewis Hamilton’s shock victory at last weekend’s German Grand Prix, Formula One season 2011 is very much alive.
It was as much about the Briton’s drive, as runaway points leader Sebastian Vettel’s wasn’t, which has given genuine hope to competitors and fans alike that they shouldn’t turn their attention to 2012 anytime soon.
For the first time since Italy 2010 (excluding the Korean GP when Vettel retired whilst leading), where incidentally he finished fourth, the German didn’t feature on the podium. Make that the first time he featured outside the top two since then.
The other interesting notion to consider, is that he struggled to overtake competitors at the Nurburgring.
Which can lead to only one, devastating conclusion.
So long as he doesn’t race off the line and into the sunset, and is instead boxed in behind Jenson Button or Felipe Massa, this man is as immortal as an ant.
Perhaps that’s the revelation of the century, Sebastian Vettel’s kryptonite – competitors.
One could say that he’s so used to having a clear track ahead of him, but it seems that Vettel isn’t so invincible when he’s staring at the back of a McLaren or a Ferrari.
Okay, he took Felipe Massa for fourth place on the final lap, but that was down to the mechanics in pit-lane, the Brazilian losing time to a troublesome wheel nut, so you can hardly count that as an overtake.
Unbelievably, Vettel still leads the standings by seventy-seven points, but the German Grand Prix, and to a lesser extent, the British Grand Prix, represented so much more than that.
Psychologically, both McLaren and Ferrari have exposed Red Bull’s frailties, and this has got both Vettel and Mark Webber worried, not to mention team principal, Christian Horner.
With three victories from the past four events between them, the traditional superpowers, no doubt fancy their chances of launching an all-out assault, as we enter the second half of the season.
What has also become apparent, is that if they can out-qualify the Red Bulls, the chances of victory for a Ferrari or a McLaren driver increase dramatically.
Mark Webber’s chronic poor starts basically means that if Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton are lining up next to him, they are assured of the lead by turn one.
Then there’s Vettel, who seemingly struggles to cope with the novel advent of having cars surrounding him.
Hungary is next up this weekend, the final race before the traditional, month-long European summer break, and the Budapest track isn’t one which holds fond memories for Vettel.
Last year, he sacrified a certain victory by falling to sleep behind the safety car, earning a drive-through penalty, with Mark Webber inheriting first place.
And Lewis Hamilton certainly fancies himself there, having won the race on two occassions.
Let’s hope, it is Mark Webber’s turn to finally taste success, although, using common logic, he is just as likely to bring his car home for a solid, third place!
Regardless of the outcome, Vettel’s weakness has been uncovered, season 2011 is back on track, and nobody should be giving up on it anytime soon!
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