Can a driver operate without manager?

[CHT]

I just curious if modern f1 driver can be successful in F1 without a manager?

Successful meaning getting best pay and winning the most championship

[WhiteBlue]

It looks like Seb Vettel is good at that.

[Just_a_fan]

If he is a successful driver then yes he can succeed without a manager because he'll be in demand. If he's an also-ran then a manager is probably more likley to get him a decent pay deal etc.

[raymondu999]

Seb has never had a manager AFAIK. Lewey the Ham also operated for the better part of a year without a manager too

[Giblet]

If you are a Vettel, you have the talent and smarts to go a long way and have much success and won't need a manager. A manager might be able to get him a bit more cash, but at the end of the his career he'll never actually miss it.

If you are Ralph Schumacher, you need a Willi Weber to get you that yacht in short order as your career has a shorter shelf life with limited success.

[bot6]

It's not quite correct to say that Vettel has no manager. He's been managed by the Red Bull team throughout his career.

I think it really depends on the type of relationship and contract the driver has with his team. A driver "born and raised" within the team like Vettel at Red Bull or Hamilton at Mc Laren won't need an agent as much as other drivers, because their interests will be looked after by the team, including all personal endorsements. A driver like Alonso might need one since he frequently changes teams.

[CHT]

If you are a Vettel, you have the talent and smarts to go a long way and have much success and won't need a manager. A manager might be able to get him a bit more cash, but at the end of the his career he'll never actually miss it.

If you are Ralph Schumacher, you need a Willi Weber to get you that yacht in short order as your career has a shorter shelf life with limited success.

If you are a driver operating without a manager and driving for a small independent team, how do you expect to get a good deal for yourselves to one of the top teams over the race weekend? Take Massa for example, without Jean Todt's son as his manager, do you tink Massa will be able to get a drive at Ferrari?

Or assuming if Lewis and Vettel are not from any of the top team young driver program, will their career be as successful as other managed drivers like JB, FA or MS

Also does quick driver = smart driver?

[Giblet]

As far as Massa goes, I don't think he has the talent to be able to get any drive he wants, and needs someone spending more time wheeling and dealing him into a contract. Selling him.

Keep in mind if you are a Vettel or Hamilton you are now very in demand, not in a position like Massa where you need to fight to get the drive you want. Massa's position is very unique in the sport.

These guys for the most part can go wherever they want, any team that can afford them will take them, manager or not.

[ringo]

It looks like Seb Vettel is good at that.

In terms of getting payed yes, but outside of that he's not putting himself out there.
It's almost forgettable that he is world champion.

He's not taking full advantage in the public domain.
I think Jackie Stewart mentioned the responsibilities of a WC. Vettel doesn't seem to be doing much for the sport as WC.
A manager would have made him more recognizable and more of a house hold name.

He is doing well to stay with redbull up to 2014. But he needs to get more out of it. He's still not a superstar like Hamilton, Shumacher or Alonso.

[andrew]

If a driver is savvy enough and is willing to miss one or two photo op's with hangers on, sorry I mean parties, then of course they can manage themselves.

[WhiteBlue]

It's not quite correct to say that Vettel has no manager. He's been managed by the Red Bull team throughout his career.

Bovine manure. He spend years at BMW and Toro Rosso during his F1 career. How could he have been managed by Red Bull Racing? He was sponsored by Red Bull during his post cart career and he got some advise by Helmut Marko who runs the young driver program. His early business decisions were partially made with the help of his father but lately he is very much his own man. I think he did a pretty clever game with his last contract extension by fuelling the Ferrari and Mercedes rumours over the whole winter.

[bot6]

Bovine manure. He spend years at BMW and Toro Rosso during his F1 career. How could he have been managed by Red Bull Racing? He was sponsored by Red Bull during his post cart career and he got some advise by Helmut Marko who runs the young driver program. His early business decisions were partially made with the help of his father but lately he is very much his own man. I think he did a pretty clever game with his last contract extension by fuelling the Ferrari and Mercedes rumours over the whole winter.

1) stay polite mate

2) Torro Rosso is owned by ... who?

3) He was on loan to BMW, but still contracted by Red Bull. Ferrari used to do similar things with young drivers.

[Vybz Kartel]

speaking of bovine... a case of foot in mouth!!!

[WhiteBlue]

Bovine manure. He spend years at BMW and Toro Rosso during his F1 career. How could he have been managed by Red Bull Racing? He was sponsored by Red Bull during his post cart career and he got some advise by Helmut Marko who runs the young driver program. His early business decisions were partially made with the help of his father but lately he is very much his own man. I think he did a pretty clever game with his last contract extension by fuelling the Ferrari and Mercedes rumours over the whole winter.

1) stay polite mate

2) Torro Rosso is owned by ... who?

3) He was on loan to BMW, but still contracted by Red Bull. Ferrari used to do similar things with young drivers.

You have said that Vettel was managed by the Red Bull team throughout his career, which is obviously nonsense or more politely put incorrect.

1. The cart career wasn't not even sponsored by Red Bull
2. Sponsorship and management are two different things
3. If any Red Bull organization was involved in management like activities it would not have been Red Bull Racing (Horner is the boss) but the Red Bull young driver program (Marko is boss) which is different.

[bot6]

OK, I'll rephrase for the pedants and anals who can't accept a general concept, or won't because it would invalidate what they said.

Vettel has been supported by Red Bull for quite a long time, long before he entered F1. And I'm pretty sure that Red Bull have an advisory team around drivers in their development programme, to which Vettel had access.