Ex-Ferrari Boss Explains Sebastian Vettel’s “Major” Problem That Plagued His F1 Career

If I asked you to count some of the greatest Formula 1 drivers at your fingertips, it is quite likely that Sebastian Vettel would be there. And why not? He is amongst the only 4 drivers in the sport’s history to win 4 consecutive world championships. He dominated the sport between 2010 and 2013 showcasing his unparalleled skill, particularly in adapting to the cutting-edge blown diffuser cars of that era.

However, Vettel’s journey in Formula 1 hasn’t been without its challenges. His later years with Ferrari and Aston Martin were marked by frustration and unfulfilled potential. Despite securing four world championships, 53 race victories, and 57 pole positions, Vettel’s legacy is somewhat tarnished by his struggles outside of the Red Bull era. And in a recent usual Live Chat on his YouTube Channel, former Ferrari boss, Peter Windsor, shed some light on why Vettel struggled so much, effectively highlighting one of the major flaws in his driving.

“He [Sebastian Vettel] was just unbelievable, so quick [during his championship years]! But then the minute that regulation changed [in 2014], they started to take downforce away from the rear of the car, he began to struggle,“ Peter pointed out. “And I think that showed up a flaw in his driving which he was unable to manipulate the car the way a Max [Verstappen] now can manipulate the car… Seb was just bong down to a rotation point that he was really good at defining. But there was no real tradeoff breaking against steering. It was just breaking down to that point and incredible feel and car control and when things were slightly wrong and that’s where that fault showed up.”

“And I think this is the major problem Sebastian then had for the rest of his career. He didn’t then dig deep and say why am I getting beaten here by Daniel Ricciardo? There’s something I’m not doing that he is. Instead of which he sort of [said], ‘Right, I’m out of here, I’m going to go to Ferrari, where I’ll be a four times world champion and they really want me and the car will be brilliant and I’ll win another world championship or two’. And of course, it never happened because he always had that flaw in his driving and it showed up again at Ferrari,” he concluded.

Nevertheless, Vettel’s impact on Formula 1 is undeniable. His aggressive driving style, combined with moments of brilliance, such as his daring pass on Fernando Alonso at Monza in 2011, has solidified his place in the sport’s history. Despite not being considered among the absolute elite of all-time greats, Vettel’s contributions to Formula 1 are significant and worthy of recognition.

After taking a break from racing at the end of the 2022 season, Vettel seems to be getting interested in racing once again.

Could Sebastian Vettel race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

The German recently took to the track again, but this time not in a Formula 1 car. Instead, he got behind the wheel of a Hypercar from Porsche used in the WEC (World Endurance Championship). His motive? Simply put, he wanted to experience something new. Vettel shared his thoughts on his decision to test for Porsche, hinting at the possibility of participating in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Speaking to RTL’s German branch, Vettel expressed his intrigue, saying, “I’ve been in the car over the last few weeks and up until yesterday preparing because I was simply interested, how an endurance car like this, which is on the road at Le Mans, how it feels to drive.” Regarding the possibility of returning to competitive racing, particularly at Le Mans, Vettel remained uncertain.

Reflecting on the unique sensations of driving a car with a roof, Vettel expressed his enjoyment of the experience but admitted, “I don’t yet know what will come of it. I’ll have to feel my way into it a bit and that will become clear in the near future.“

READ MORE: Sebastian Vettel Confirms Exchanging Texts with Toto Wolff Amid Rumors of Return to Replace Lewis Hamilton

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