Sebastian Vettel’s four consecutive World Championships have encompassed 34 victories. Fellow champions presently on the grid – there are four others – have triumphed on a combined 32 occasions in this period.
This figure illustrates just how dominant the German has been.
The famine currently being endured by these men who were on top of the world prior to the now familiar (and in many cases, dreaded) sight of the right-index finger saluting at the end of most Grands Prix is a warning to all that the good times must be enjoyed to the fullest.
You never know when somebody might come along and consign a name to nothing more than a footnote in the history books.
Jenson Button won six races during his 2009 title campaign, but has triumphed on just eight occasions in subsequent seasons. The Briton didn’t score a single podium in 2013, let alone a victory.
The most experienced driver on the grid has a year to run on his McLaren contract, and he could find himself out of a job should rookie teammate Kevin Magnussen outshine him.
Button has expressed a desire to reunite with Honda once McLaren links up with the Japanese marque, whose engines powered Ayrton Senna to each of his titles nearly a quarter of a century ago, in 2015. Early season form will determine whether this can happen.
It is difficult to fathom the soon to be 34 year old is the most recent champion prior to Vettel.
Lewis Hamilton took the world by storm when upon his debut with McLaren in 2007, leading the standings for the majority of the season, and ultimately forcing his double World Champion teammate out of the Woking based outfit after a solitary campaign.
Though he fell short at the final hurdle, Hamilton made amends twelve months later, infamously passing Timo Glock on the final corner of the final lap to snatch the title from a victorious Felipe Massa’s grasp.
In becoming the youngest champion until Vettel, the Briton was tipped to create a dynasty at McLaren.
Five years into the future and a change of outfit later, Hamilton can still boast of only his 2008 title, and eleven victories in the four seasons since Vettel took over the category is all he has to show.
Hamilton will desperately be hoping the new regulations propel his W05 into the title contender many believe the Silver Arrows’ V6 powertrain will be, lest the 28 year old faces the prospect of dining out on ever-fading memories of 2008 for some time yet.
Kimi Räikkönen has won only two races in the Vettel era, but it must be remembered that he’s only been around for the past two seasons.
Upon returning from his WRC sojourn, the Finn has punched above his weight in a Lotus running on a limited budget, finishing both seasons in third place, with solitary victories in each campaign. He was also running third in the 2013 standings prior to abandoning his campaign to undergo back surgery.
The 2007 World Champion returns to the scene of his glory next season with Ferrari, and though he’s not getting any younger at 33, Räikkönen now has a car that, on paper at least, should have him contending regularly for victories rather than podiums.
Räikkönen thrives when everything around him is working, so we’ll know after a few races whether he’s any chance of adding to his only title to date.
Fernando Alonso must wonder if he’s ever going to add to the two titles he won what seems to be a lifetime ago in 2005 and 2006.
Second in three of his past four campaigns, the Spaniard has made the most of packages which haven’t been anywhere near those enjoyed by Vettel, extracting 11 hard-fought victories during his time in red.
With a little bit of luck, Alonso could be a four-time champion right now had 2010 and 2012 played out a little differently.
Then again, he could also have been a five-time champion if he hadn’t clashed so badly with Ron Dennis and to a lesser extent, Lewis Hamilton, at McLaren in 2007. The reality is that he can only boast of the two he claimed in the immediate aftermath of the Michael Schmacher-Ferrari golden era.
Simmering relations with Ferrari – notably president Luca di Montezemolo, who infamously “tweaked” the Spaniard’s ear mid-season – coupled with Räikkönen’s arrival/return makes one wonders if he’s destined to be a bridesmaid again in 2014.
By that stage Alonso will be 33, so he might cut his losses, abandon the dream mission and return to (of all places) McLaren.
You know when drivers such as Alonso and Hamilton – who many rank inside the top ten drivers of all time – haven’t won as many races in four seasons as Vettel did in 2013 alone that the German’s domination of Formula One is about as comprehensive as possible without asking his competitors not to show up.
The clock is ticking. An entire generation of champions are at risk of being forgotten unless a resistance is forged, starting right now.
Looking for great odds on racing and sport? Get into the action with PlayUp today. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
The Australian finished second but had to work for it, as he fought off food poisoning, a race day engine change, and his own overheating body.
Nico Hulkenberg's move to a German team will hopefully bring back some of the German flare Formula 1 had just seven years ago.
Given how exclusive and precious a commodity scoring an F1 point is, why is it that mediocrity should be rewarded?
Team Penske is under the same umbrella of ownership as the IndyCar Series itself, so it was imperative for to drop the hammer and protect their integrity—which, thankfully, they did.
Red Bull can’t rest on its laurels and if Perez can’t provide them with cover on the rare days that Verstappen is having trouble, it's time to look elsewhere.
The absolute vitriol against the Canadian that has come from the incident is beyond reprehensible.
