Now, I'm aware that we already have a Vettel v Ricciardo thread, so if any mod disapproves of my starting this then I apologise and feel free to move/close this one. However, I think that there's room for a separate discussion to be had about the reigning World Champion's problems in the first four races of the season.
Firstly, there's certainly a problem. Okay, Australia was a write-off and Vettel drove a strong race in Malaysia, but in the past two races we've seen Vettel outpaced by his new teammate. Don't get me wrong, Ricciardo looks well worth the seat, but Vettel just isn't on the form he displayed last season, cooking his tyres behind Alonso today particularly uncharacteristic.
So what's the problem and how is it fixed? There's no way we can know for sure, of course, but could it be that the lack of EBD is hurting him at the moment? We saw him struggle a little at the start of 2012 when I believe RB were having trouble perfecting the system, and I've seen several articles/commentators saying that handling the EBD through the slow corners was a particular strength. But then, Vettel was a racewinner several times in 2008-9, without running any EBD. Horner mentions problems with the turn-in which may be hurting Vettel. What do you think of that?
Or could it be time out of the car that is an issue? He certainly didn't get much pre-season testing and in the last test at Bahrain I believe it was Ricciardo, rather than Vettel, who ran for Red Bull. But then, with the birth of his daughter in the off-season could it be that Vettel's taking some less time and the simulator and that it is this that is hurting him?
Anyway, like I say, sorry if the mods want to close this down, but I think there's scope here for a detailed discussion about the precise nature of Vettel's problems this season
Edited by Spillage, 20 April 2014 - 18:42.