I'll still be supporting him 100% in 2011 though!
Me too Geoff, although as I said in the other thread I don't know how it will go for me as an F1 fan next year. From the top drivers I already liked Webber and Alonso, and now I have taken a shining to Vettel and dare I say it ... Lewis Hamilton (can't believe I would say that last year, but great performances in 2010 and he has grown up a bit). I also think Rosberg and Schumi could both surprise. Let's hope the cars are as close but I am not so sure with KERS and new tyres.
Malaysia for example...
webber screwed up his season. Korea and Valencia of course major stuff-ups.
However MANY times he was faster, and did not attempt to overtake, instead following that the driver at first corner pits "better" and there are no overtakes after pitstop. i.e. the driver who wins the first corner, wins the race. So Vettel should have followed this too, and asked Webber to go off fuel management, so that Vettel had more room to fend off Alonso... instead he used his extra revs to try to pass Mark - clearly unfair team orders and a dumb move.
@Malaysia It was only in the first stint when Webber purpled on lap 10 that he got close. Vettel instantly went a tenth quicker on 11 and from then on had him covered. I'm doubtful Webber would have pulled much of a gap if he was leading but who knows.
Red Bull have said from the start the drivers are free to race. I agree that by their own words, as pole sitter and race leader Webber should have had priority from the team at Turkey if they had to choose between the drivers. Their claim that they had to protect Vettel (from Hamilton btw not Alonso) was utterly ridiculous. But again if we want to be fair, how about pointing out that Vettel hunted down Webber and was on his ass even before Webber turned engine down? After that we really don't know what actually happened between Horner/Newey/Marko/Rocky/Pillbeam on the pitwall. To me the suggestion that Vettel was fully aware of Mark's engine situation and had the power in the team to influence them to give away his team mate's lead seems extreme. That's Alonso territory, but maybe next year.
Talking about Webber being on Vettel's tail, to me it is just down to **** aero, and Vettel learning not to outbrake himself and throw it off like he's done before when being attacked. But again to be fair, Vettel was able to build and hold a gap at just as many races as we saw Webber glued to his tail.
Since you brought up team orders, I think there is a question mark over Monza still as to Vettel's engine problems. It seems way too convenient to me that it would happen just as Webber needed to get past, and they would suddenly vanish and he'd be allowed to go for fastest lap at the end (not that I have any problem with them doing this, as they were on different strategies and it was for lower positions anyway).
Anyway, with all the talk of Turkey and Vettel's racecraft (to which I subscribed if you read post #1 of this thread), people have not mentioned that Vettel did pass Webber under race conditions in Shanghai, and Webber did not pass Vettel all year.
I agree slideways. But it would also be nice to hear Webber fans like yourself complimenting Mark for his best season in F1. You've followed him for a decade through all his ups & downs so i'm just amazed that even though he's won 6 races & had 20 podiums in two seasons you still make posts pointing out his weaknesses & nothing about his strengths. Just read your last post mate. Not one positive mention about Mark. Not one positive & you're a massive fan? Or just a fence sitter like you said?
I have no problem with saying Seb had Mark's measure this year & i've stated it many times if you check my post history. But i find it difficult to sit back & watch so called supporters criticising all the time. We all know that Mark is not as naturally gifted as some drivers but he always has a crack & that is the sign of a fierce competitor. That's called Aussie grit & determination. I'm a proud member of the Fanatics & have followed Aussies in many sports in my travels around the world. We support them no matter what, even if they're **** or have no hope of winning. We urge them on & cheer any success not sit back & criticize or apologise for their failings. Especially when we have no idea of what pressures & difficulties they face at the pinnacle of their chosen sport.
So maybe next year it would be really nice for some supporters to actually show support!!
I was a big fan in the early years but right now I am more towards a fence sitter! For many years here I have been pro-Webber and defending him, but it's difficult for me to be positive after what's happened.
Being Australian only made me interested in Webber, not a supporter. I supported him because to me he was the stand out driver in the midfield for 3 or 4 years. I guess that's the difference between me and most Webber supporters and why we conflict on opinion here of late.