Are we seeing a Vettel era?

[raymondu999]

I think the best way to really put an end to all this is to have a known benchmark to compare Vettel against; in identical machinery - then comparing their qualifying performances; their racing abilities; and their race pace/consistency; and of course, points.

Having said all that...

If I could clarify - some people are saying it's a Red Bull era rather than a Vettel era. When I opened this thread in the first place - my point was; were we going to see a stretch of time; where 1 driver was winning most of the races and taking up the championships? ie are we going to see a repeat of Schumacher's 2000-2004 years, except this year with a different driver in the center seat (Vettel) and a different team (Red Bull)?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Different tracks have different demands

33 from 38 possible poles Ray. thats fairly conclusive.

and different machines shine/fade on different circuits. What is your benchmark, from which you're saying that in Monaco 2010, and in Nurburgring 2011, the Renault and McLaren (respectively) were lesser machines? On balance of the rest of the season it would seem they are. But how are you deducing that on that particular day in history that they are slower? If you're using qualifying as a benchmark for the RB6/7 being dominantly fast - which I don't deny - why aren't you using qualifying as a benchmark for that Kubica Monaco 2010 lap, or the Nurburgring 2011 Hamilton lap?

Yes different machines shine and fade in different circuits and different conditions.
So I came up with another stat to drive home my point.

In 37 of 38 Grand prix, there has been a Red Bull sat on the front row. My benchmark is simple, Red Bull are expected to win.

I cant tell you how Kubica or Hamilton performed on those occasions, But I can tell you that they preformed better than was expected of them.

As for Alonso's quote, its his opinion and has nothing to do with Vettel, Red Bull or in any way affiliated to our discussion. Bandying it about as some kind of yardstick to base our opinions on is not constructive in my view.

[raymondu999]

Mate - I urge you to re-read my first post on it. I was just commenting on the similarities of the 2 situations. It has no impact WHATSOEVER to the discussions. Anyways - let's move on.

To bring my post just before JET's back to the fore

I think the best way to really put an end to all this is to have a known benchmark to compare Vettel against; in identical machinery - then comparing their qualifying performances; their racing abilities; and their race pace/consistency; and of course, points.

Having said all that...

If I could clarify - some people are saying it's a Red Bull era rather than a Vettel era. When I opened this thread in the first place - my point was; were we going to see a stretch of time; where 1 driver was winning most of the races and taking up the championships? ie are we going to see a repeat of Schumacher's 2000-2004 years, except this year with a different driver in the center seat (Vettel) and a different team (Red Bull)?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

In fairness I see no difference between the 2000-2004 Schumacher era and the Vettel era at present.

But Schumacher did have 94-95 and a string of great performances behind him before that.

EDIT: Yes Ray, this appears to be Vettels era. As I posted way back when you opened the thread.

[bhall]

With regard to reality, the best way to put an end to all of this would be acceptance of the fact that Vettel is easily a great driver, if not yet completely proven, and that the RB7 was so good that I'd be loathe to give an abundance of credit to even Jesus Christ if He drove it to the title. On water.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

and that the RB7 was so good that I'd be loathe to give an abundance of credit to even Jesus Christ if He drove it to the title. On water.

[Richard]

The irony is that Vettel only lost the lead when on water

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

The irony is that Vettel only lost the lead when on water

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plZRe1kPWZw[/youtube]

[raymondu999]

The irony is that Vettel only lost the lead when on water

Vettel loves Python. He was doing a Life of Brian tribute

Oh please. The Big Guy would win all 19 races in the HRT without so much as needing a tyre change

In fairness I see no difference between the 2000-2004 Schumacher era and the Vettel era at present

Thank you. That was the topic of discussion intended for the thread from the start.

[bhall]

Well, five years is more than two years. Why anyone insists on giving them equivalent value is beyond me. Impatient praise, indeed.

[raymondu999]

Yes; but my point was it's a speculation thread; more of "will we see Vettel dominate for the next few years?" rather than "is he doing what Schumacher did back then?"

[CHT]

I think we should stop talking about Vettel, RB7 and other WDCs for a moment and focus on Webber as a driver and as a team mate. Is he such a lousy driver that he is not worthy of comparing to WDC?

[raymondu999]

Let's stop talking of that - and move the thread back to what it was intended for; as shown in the few posts above yours

[beelsebob]

I think we should stop talking about Vettel, RB7 and other WDCs for a moment and focus on Webber as a driver and as a team mate. Is he such a lousy driver that he is not worthy of comparing to WDC?

Quite frankly... yes.

There are "only" 5-6 drivers on the grid at the moment that I truly think are WDC contenders (I'm looking at Vettel, Button, Hamilton, Alonso, Raikonnen, possibly Rosberg). Mark Webber is not one of them; Filipe Massa is no longer one of them.

I don't mean to take away from them being good drivers, but this is a situation very much like Tennis at the moment – that there's an absolute elite at the top, and a bunch of wannabes trying desperately to be near them.

[RB7ate9]

I think the best way to really put an end to all this is to have a known benchmark to compare Vettel against; in identical machinery - then comparing their qualifying performances; their racing abilities; and their race pace/consistency; and of course, points.

Having said all that...

If I could clarify - some people are saying it's a Red Bull era rather than a Vettel era. When I opened this thread in the first place - my point was; were we going to see a stretch of time; where 1 driver was winning most of the races and taking up the championships? ie are we going to see a repeat of Schumacher's 2000-2004 years, except this year with a different driver in the center seat (Vettel) and a different team (Red Bull)?

Ah, I see.

In that case: No. The other teams have the money and the drivers to break the streak. If they can do that this year, though, is a different story that cannot be elucidated without more detail about the cars this year, as well as the development of individual driver skill.

...I leave one comment trying to answer CHT's question and all of a sudden the thread explodes