F1 News: Sebastian Vettel Compared to His “Idol” Niki Lauda as Helmut Marko Brings Up Old Red Bull Battle

Sebastian Vettel was undeniably dominant during his championship-winning streak. However, it can’t be said that he was a fan favorite at the time. His ruthlessness and his eagerness to assert himself rubbed many F1 fans the wrong way. Especially his episodes with Mark Webber, who, despite being a good driver, never managed to beat Vettel over a full season during their stint at Red Bull. However, with time, Sebastian Vettel went from being hated to being one of the most admired drivers in Formula 1. In a recent interview, Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, looked back at the rivalry between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

Sebastian Vettel’s aggression mellowed with age as he became more and more like the heroes he idolized; one of which was Niki Lauda. His admiration for Lauda stood out in his tribute to the legend who passed away in May 2019. Expressing his deep state of sorrow, Vettel described Niki Lauda as a “hero and an icon.” He highlighted Lauda’s authenticity and his straightforward nature. The German also emphasized the late racer’s character and passion for the sport. And now, Vettel has been compared to the very man he idolizes.

Helmut Marko appreciates Sebastian Vettel’s technical excellence with the F1 car

If you’ve watched the Hollywood movie ‘Rush’, you would be familiar with the fact that Niki Lauda was extremely analytical when it came to the technical aspects of his car. According to Marko, Sebastian Vettel is the same. He recounted how Vettel was always able to capitalize on technical details while others struggled with it.

“To some extent, Sebastian reminds me of Niki Lauda… Sebastian… was, from the beginning, a very analytical worker. He knew how to make optimal use of all the technical options,” Marko told The Red Bulletin. He complimented Vettel’s knack for understanding the subtle nuances of the car and extracting maximum performance under any given situation.

According to Hemlut Marko, this is the quality that allowed Sebastian Vettel to outperform Mark Webber, who was a very talented driver himself in Marko’s eyes. “This helped him to be ahead, by a lot, of Mark Webber… Mark was unbeatable on some circuits like the Nürburgring or the final sector of Barcelona, but Sebastian was clearly ahead in the overall calculation of a season,“ he added.

Marko also spoke about Vettel’s ability to adapt to rule changes and new tire regulations, citing examples from 2009 and 2011. “Whenever there was a technical innovation, whether it was blown diffusers or a new tire supplier, he knew how to make optimal use of his technical experience. It was this skill that led him to become world champion four times,“ he concluded.

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The relationship between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber was rocky from the start due to their intense rivalry. The ‘Multi 21’ incident at Sepang became the lowest point for the drivers and for Red Bull.

What happened during the 2013 Sepang Grand Prix?

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull’s homegrown talent, had brought the team 3 championships by 2012. Webber came tantalizingly close to Vettel in 2010, but couldn’t claim the title. Cracks started to develop in the relationship after their collision in Turkey, in 2010. However, the tipping point came in Malaysia in 2013, forever ruining Webber’s ties with both Vettel and Red Bull.

With Webber leading the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, Red Bull issued the infamous ‘Multi 21’ order, telling both drivers to maintain positions. However, Vettel defied the team orders and overtook Webber to snatch the victory. The German later went on to state that he thought he deserved the win because he was simply faster than the Australian. This move stirred massive backlash from the fans and Vettel even apologized for his decision to defy the team’s orders.

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Do you think Sebastian Vettel was right to defy the team orders when he said that he deserved to win at Sepang because he was faster? Share your thoughts down below in the comments.