Fernando Alonso is six years Sebastian Vettel’s senior, though it isn’t inconceivable that the latter may hang up his helmet sooner, for 2017 shapes as a decisive juncture in their respective futures.
Having endured an entire decade since his most recent title, Alonso is a tortured soul, yet his steadfast belief that a third crown remains within reach has enabled him to front for another campaign.
The Spaniard enters the final season of his contract with McLaren convinced that his patience will be rewarded, though anything less than tangible success – if not victory, certainly podium contention, in coming months is certain to deter the 35-year-old from extending his second tenure at Woking.
Dreams of another Maranello dynasty couldn’t appear further away for Vettel, whose impatience amid behind the scenes upheaval became abundant in his sophomore season at Ferrari.
The German similarly has a solitary season to run on his agreement, and with the personnel and ideological reset at the behest of Sergio Marchionne only starting to take effect, notions of imminent victories, much less titles and dynasties don’t appear as forthcoming as the 29-year-old envisaged.
The elephant in the room is the Mercedes carrot, on account of its decision to hire Valtteri Bottas for a single season, which begs inevitable questions concerning Stuttgart’s ulterior motive. It could yet come to pass that Lewis Hamilton follows Nico Rosberg’s lead and throws in the towel before his contract has run its course, though the Finn shapes as a pawn in the conspiracy.
» Every F1 race live on Foxtel
For any of this to be realised, Alonso and Vettel must possess the fire within. The offer to line up for the outfit which peerlessly seized the hybrid era appears simple in theory, yet there’s no telling where either’s desire levels may lie a few months down the road.
Should Red Bull steal a march on the Silver Arrows in phase two of the turbo chapter – an extremely realistic proposition if a rejuvenated Adrian Newey pioneers a concept for the umpteenth occasion, with incumbents Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen ostensibly secure for the foreseeable future, the incentive to race on elsewhere will surely diminish.
Alonso has persevered this long without recompense – his latest victory coming in 2013 and podium in 2014, while Vettel’s success is much fresher, and grander, having inflicted multiple championship near misses on the Spaniard throughout the course of his four consecutive titles.
Vettel boasts a young family, which is certain to have caused contemplation regarding his presence in their formative years, thus the German may be inclined to prematurely call it a day as his compatriot did, content with his already considerable achievements rather than committing to a long-term rebuild.
Convention would suggest that Alonso has lost a step in his advancing years, though the reality is that he’s produced some of his finest efforts across the previous three seasons, encompassing his forgettable final campaign at Maranello, which precipitated the revolution it remains in to this day.
The Spaniard has little to lose, as he would sooner have walked away from the sport had the candle fizzled out, rather than continuing admirably, sans glory, for the pure enjoyment.
The 35-year-old has made no secret that his future beyond 2017 is contingent on his appetite for the new regulations, coupled with McLaren’s fortunes, eyeing a switch to the World Endurance Championship. He could just as easily be enthused and have designs on continuing in the years to come, be it at Woking –having afforded sufficient time to convince him of the potential, or elsewhere – being Brackley, should they remain a force to be reckoned with.
His successor at Ferrari faces a tough decision process, commencing as early as next month. His own future appears predicated on whether the Prancing Horse’s talent can finally outweigh its ambition in the post-Schumacher-Brawn-Todt era.
As much as a Mercedes collaboration would be logical from a nationalistic standpoint, he is deeply passionate about emulating his mentor’s feats at Maranello, failure to do so may be enough to convince him there is nothing further to accomplish, having enjoyed so much fortune throughout his illustrious stint at Milton Keynes.
Time stands still for nobody, yet the Spaniard shapes as the timeless man whose unrelenting quest to realise at long last what many believed was a formality fuels his resolve. Vettel appears to be a man in a hurry, no sooner than breezing in and taking the world by storm, he could well be on his way out sooner than later.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Alonso wasn't anticipating equal status with Hamilton in 2007, matters escalated rapidly once the latter displayed his ability from the outset, coupled with Dennis' ambition to see his protege take the crown. On his day, Webber was as good as anybody, though Vettel was undoubtedly superior overall. His 2010 charge wasn't aided by his late season cycling incident, his Korea error, though foremost Red Bull's failure to back him in to deliver from mid-season when he was counting on its support. At least two of Vettel's titles were on merit - 2010 and 2012, though he was untouchable in 2011 on account of the contentious EBD, whilst everybody gave up on 2013 when it was apparent that the resources necessary to overhaul Red Bull would have been detrimental to hybrid era prospects, plus the Pirelli fiasco which suited Milton Keynes to a tee. In many respects, this could have hindered the German himself, as he was out of sorts in 2014. I'd back Ricciardo to emerge over Verstappen at this stage, he's simply a more complete driver which is natural, though in two or three seasons, the Dutchman will already be at the peak of his powers.
Simoc
Guest
The 2007 miss was a complete Ron Dennis management failure. Alonso as WDC should have had priority over Hamilton in his first year in F1. Dennis's failure cost McLaren a WDC. Mark Webber was never in the same class as Vettel as a driver, similar to Niko Rosberg compared to Hamilton. But if Webber could start a Grand Prix at the same time as the other drivers did his results would have been better. He also had every chance to win a WDC but did a choke under pressure. Primarily a whinger. Vettel has four F1 World Titles, so two clear of Alonso and Hamilton. His cars had none of the power advantage enjoyed by Hamilton. He worked closely with Newey to exploit an exhaust advantage until it was reviewed. It seems the two fastest drivers at present are Verstappen and Ricciardo so the other guys will need faster cars to beat them.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Alonso certainly has to accept a portion of his failure to land a third title on account of his poor decisions, which now as a mature individual, likely wishes he hadn't made at the time. The entire 2007 campaign was a debacle, the Spaniard was as much to blame as Ron Dennis for letting that one slip, and the ramifications cost him multiple seasons out of a competitive drive. Of all of his opportunities, 2010 was definitively the one which got away, he and Ferrari had to do extremely little wrong to cede the title at Abu Dhabi, yet they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 2012 was purely unlucky with his helpless incidents at Belgium and Japan, otherwise that campaign was his finest hour. He had no right to be contending that season, yet he willed himself to the hilt. It isn't so much a case of how bad Webber was as how demoralised he became at the evident politics on hand at Milton Keynes. Nobody in their right mind would have been content with the dynamic, where Vettel "had protection", as the Australian elucidated following the calamitous 2013 Malaysian GP. The German counted on Adrian Newey's ingenuity throughout his reign, and was exposed once Mercedes pioneered the hybrid era, an eager Ricciardo who seized the moment, and his expectation that he could walk into Ferrari and immediately recreate the dynasty, which has to date fallen flat on its face. Vettel must to concentrate on driving this season if he's any chance, he's wasting his time if outbursts over petty affairs remain his priority.
SonOfLordy
Guest
Alonso has only himself to blame for not having more titles. Had the best car on the grid in 2007. Ran off from McLaren after 2007 to avoid Hamilton. Would have had a car good enough for the championship in 2008 if he had stayed at McLaren. He blew 2010 and 2012. No-one but himself to blame for Abu Dhabi 2010 and for his blunders and poor driving in the final 3 races of 2012. Vettel looks done for the most part. It shows how bad Webber was. Ricciardo destroyed Vettel and now Raikkonen is often as quick as Vettel. The constant complaining about other drivers and outbursts on team radio is all rather pathetic. I've lost a lot of respect for him.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
If rumours are to be believed that Ferrari is spooked by the suspension innovation adopted by Mercedes and Red Bull, and they're already implementing a 'B-car', the outlook appears grim for Maranello in 2017. Vettel can only have so much patience, I can't see him merrily waiting until 2020 for another title. Alonso must be given credit for honouring - to this point at least, the balance of his contract, he should feel no guilt if McLaren fails to deliver once more and a Mercedes offer is tabled for 2018. Though it would be appropriate if the Spaniard recommitted to Woking and finally breaks through at that point, considering the infamous commencement to his relationship way back in 2007!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
It's going to be a definitive campaign for both this year. McLaren one feels, could show more progress than Ferrari will, considering how the former has been on the rise since their tumultuous reunion with Honda in 2015 and the latter having lost their main man James Allison (to Mercedes now) and having to hastily reshuffle their engineering department. For Vettel, it would be more significant if this year yielded failure once more. For it would prove how truly a poisoned chalice having that prized seat at Maranello is - unless you're Kimi and are immune.