142 replies to this topic

[gillesthegenius]

Of Sebastian Vettel's 30 wins, what were your favorite ones / most memorable ones?

Here are mine...

1) Belgium 2011
2) Italy 2008
3) Abu Dhabi 2010
4) Monaco 2011
5) Bahrain 2013
6) Bahrain 2012
7) Italy 2011
8) Singapore 2011

Edited by gillesthegenius, 09 July 2013 - 01:19.

[EthanM]

Of Sebastian Vettel's 30 wins, what were your favorite ones / most memorable ones?

Here are mine...

1) Belgium 2011
2) Italy 2009
3) Abu Dhabi 2010
4) Monaco 2011
5) Bahrain 2013
6) Bahrain 2012
7) Italy 2011
8) Singapore 2011

he didn't win Italy 2009 :S
you probably mean 2008

[TheThirdTenor1]

Monza 2008 was his most memorable win. Not sure what was so memorable about the Spa 2011 win to warrant it being number 1.

[Brother Fox]

Malaysia 2013





Someone had to do it

[Kingshark]

These are his 10 best IMO, in this order.

1. Germany 2013
2. China 2009
3. Italy 2008
4. Abu Dhabi 2010
5. India 2011
6. Spain 2011
7. Monaco 2011
8. Italy 2011
9. Bahrain 2012
10. Malaysia 2010

Edited by Kingshark, 09 July 2013 - 01:00.

[Disgrace]

His Toro Rosso win is the obvious candidate.

Among his Red Bull victories, it's much more difficult to judge as all of his victories have come from starting on the front row bar two where he started third (Malaysia 2010, ended up leading on the first lap anyway and Singapore 2012 which he inherited). A majority have simply been crushing displays of dominance. There are no charges from the back to speak of.

I would say Japan 2009 based on his spectacular pole lap in which he nearly binned it several times and Malaysia this year after his move on Webber to grab the win. The controversy overshadowed what was actually a fantastic move.

Edited by Disgrace, 09 July 2013 - 01:16.

[gillesthegenius]

he didn't win Italy 2009 :S
you probably mean 2008

Oops. Typo. Thanks for pointing it out.

Not sure what was so memorable about the Spa 2011 win to warrant it being number 1.

Well many things.

1) How he clinched that pole by almost half a second in semi wet conditions.
2) How he charged back through the field after pitting on lap 6 to get rid of his first set of tyres that looked finished even before the race started.
3) How he adapted and stretched his second set of softs to 17 laps while still maintaining scintillating speed that helped him run away with the race.

For me, it was one race in which Seb needed to call into many aspects of his driving - qualy pace, overtaking, tyre management - in order to pull it off. So it was only fitting that Horner described it as a "mature drive".

[bourbon]

1) Italy 2008 - 1st Win!
2) Abu Dhabi 2010 - WDC!
3) Malaysia 2013 - Atta Boy!
4) Germany 2013 - 1st Win at Home
5) Indian GP 2011 - 1st Grand Chelem
6) SPA 2011 - 1st win at 1 of my favorite tracks
7) Monaco 2011 - What a Race!! Held on for 60 laps on a set of boots!
8) Spain 2011 - Crazy exciting last 3rd of the race!
9) Suzuka 2010 - 1st win at another of my favorite tracks
10) China 2009 - 1st Win for Red Bull Racing


One day we'll have to do races he didn't win - that is a whole other list!

Edited by bourbon, 09 July 2013 - 01:57.

[MarileneRiddle]

One day we'll have to do races he didn't win - that is a whole other list!

I had that list prepared already! But since this is about his best wins:
1. Germany 2013
2. Italy 2008
3. Italy 2011
4. Japan 2012
5. Abu Dhabi 2010
6. Monaco 2011
7. Spain 2011
8. Bahrain 2012
9. China 2009
10. Canada 2013

[Sakae]

These are his 10 best IMO, in this order.

1. Germany 2013
2. China 2009
3. Italy 2008
4. Abu Dhabi 2010
5. India 2011
6. Spain 2011
7. Monaco 2011
8. Italy 2011
9. Bahrain 2012
10. Malaysia 2010

One for the books, Sakae agrees on something with Kingshark; indeed, for me last race in Germany is probably one of his most memorable ones, although, Torro Rosso win was first one, and who can forget 2012 Brazil, despite that it was not a win, is also very close to his heart.

Edited by Sakae, 09 July 2013 - 06:08.

[Vibe]

It's just so boring when Vettel wins,so I have no favorite win of his.

[velgajski1]

Not a Vettel fan, for me some are:
1. Monza 2008
2. Abu Dhabi 2010
3. Monaco 2011

[Briz]

people remember 2011 like a year where Vettel had no opposition at all, but in fact there were some very tough races where he won, Monaco and Barcelona were fantastic

Monza 2008
Monaco 2011
Nurburgring 2013 - I suspect that one was only exciting because it is one of his weaker tracks but great 110% effort from him
Barcelona 2011
Spa 2011
Bahrain 2012

haven't watched 2009 yet

[chrisblades85]

It's a well known fact that he has no talent and every single win is due to luck. FACT.

[P123]

It's a well known fact that he has no talent and every single win is due to luck. FACT.

It's a well known fact that none of them have any talent and are only there by luck- some people just have an extra special insight that lets them focus on a particular driver.

I tend to remember more the ones Vettel lost through bad luck/ reliability issues. But obviously Monza '08 and Italy '09 stand out. And Nurburgring was a hard fought victory.

[DarthWillie]

Monza 2008 was special,
Monza 2011 was also very special
Germany 2013 was a great one
Spa 2011 with the tire problems
Abu Dhabi 2010 for the result


those really stand out, but there were other nice ones as well.

[joshb]

1. Abu Dhabi 2010- 1st title
2. Germany 2013- Finally wins at home
3. Monza 2008- One of the great underdog wins
4. China 2009- First RB win in conditions so bad they'd never race in today
5. Monaco 2011- Holding on despite very worn tyres
6. Monza 2011- That pass on Alonso
7. Malaysia 2013- That race with Webber
8. India 2011- 1st Grand Chelem
9. Belgium 2011- Made more passes than a dodgy quiz contestant!
10. Singapore 2011- He was so dominant- without SC or backing off, he wins by almost a minute

Close behind
Turkey 11- wins after practise crash
Spain 11- Holds off Hamilton for an uncomfortable number of laps
Canada 13- Clears the ghost of 2011
Suzuka 10- Beats Webber at his best in a must win race
Brazil 10- Must win- despite a tricky qualy and a SC, wins it. Prelude to Abu Dhabi
Bahrain 12- Who need the Exhaust Blown Diffuser???
Bahrain 13- Passes Alonso and Rosberg like they weren't there
Suzuka 12- 29 points deficit down to 4 with a Grand Chelem

[Zoetrope]

1. Yas Marina 2010
2. Monza 2008 (haven't actually seen this race, but it's so famous after 5 years that it speaks for itself)
3. Monza 2011 - he has shown better performance in other races, but that pass on Alonso will stick with me for a long time

[skyfolker]

1.Monaco 2011
2.Abu Dhabi 2010
3.Italy 2008
4.Spain 2011
5.Malaysia 2011
6.Germany 2013
7.Italy 2011

[DutchQuicksilver]

Of his wins only the one in Monza 2008 and perhaps China 2009 springs to mind really. It shows his wins are never that really spectacular. Always from the front row or near the front row.

[1Devil1]

Of his wins only the one in Monza 2008 and perhaps China 2009 springs to mind really. It shows his wins are never that really spectacular. Always from the front row or near the front row.

I don't know - I can't think of a spectacular of Hamilton (bar Silverstone 2008) or Alonso (bar Valencia 2012) in the recent years. Pirelli made racing perhaps more exciting but for myself, all the tire conservation took some special moments we've seen with Schumacher or Senna - going flat out, total dominance. Even today RedBull wouldn't crush the field having a car one second faster because of of the saving tires, engine approach - the formula one environment is so much regulated (see rain races) it isn't possible to show some special performances. I would bet Vettel would be the first one (keeping his fastest laps in mind at the end of the race) going for a glorious victory...

[sheepgobba]

Monza 2008

[fastwriter]

Of his wins only the one in Monza 2008 and perhaps China 2009 springs to mind really. It shows his wins are never that really spectacular. Always from the front row or near the front row.

1. What should he do? He is one of the fastest guy in a very good car. Chances are low, that he will qualify deep down the grid.

2. Which other driver wins regularly, when not starting from front row?

3 Conclusion: Again double standards by the Vettel haters here.

[SteF1an]

1. Abu Dhabi 2010- 1st title
2. Germany 2013- Finally wins at home
3. Monza 2008- One of the great underdog wins
4. China 2009- First RB win in conditions so bad they'd never race in today
5. Monaco 2011- Holding on despite very worn tyres
6. Monza 2011- That pass on Alonso
7. Malaysia 2013- That race with Webber
8. India 2011- 1st Grand Chelem
9. Belgium 2011- Made more passes than a dodgy quiz contestant!
10. Singapore 2011- He was so dominant- without SC or backing off, he wins by almost a minute

This

[Jordana]

Monza 2008
Abu Dhabi 2010
Nürburgring 2013

[JHSingo]

Amazed that so many choose Abu Dhabi 2010. Okay, yes, he won his first title, but as a race it was mighty boring. Literally nothing happened thanks to nobody being able to overtake on such a crappy circuit.

[joshb]

Amazed that so many choose Abu Dhabi 2010. Okay, yes, he won his first title, but as a race it was mighty boring. Literally nothing happened thanks to nobody being able to overtake on such a crappy circuit.

as a race it wasn't much but the fact Seb won to take the title, his 1st title, in a race where Mclaren and Hamilton were a constant threat and put Seb under big pressure for most of the race with all the omens pointing to another car failure to deny him.

On my list, I chose India not because he won dramatically and it was a good race- it wasn't, but he was so good all weekend, top of just about every session, led all the way, fastest lap, the crowning glory of one of the great seasons you'll ever see by a driver

Singapore is the same- he was about 20 seconds clear before a mid race SC, then he used the backmarkers to build up 3 or 4 secs on the restart, then 10 seconds after the first lap! He was 14 secs clear and but for Button pushing at the end, would've won that by a mile and taken the grand chelem too. The quote that summed that up was Brundle as Seb took off at the restart "And Vettel just leaves them all for dead... like he has done all year"

Edited by joshb, 09 July 2013 - 12:24.

[apoka]

One day we'll have to do races he didn't win - that is a whole other list!

Yes, I think a lot of his best races weren't wins, especially if you look at the more action-packed ones. For instance Spa last year and, of course, the title decider in Brazil, were real nail biters.

Performance wise, he had quite a few wins, which go under the radar, because they were close to perfect (but not spectacular). For instance, there was a race in Valencia, I think in 2011, where he was driving extremely well all weekend. I had the impression he got the car very very close to its limits and was really mastering that track.

[TheThirdTenor1]

Well many things.

1) How he clinched that pole by almost half a second in semi wet conditions.

That was impressive.

2) How he charged back through the field after pitting on lap 6 to get rid of his first set of tyres that looked finished even before the race started.

This has happened very often in Pirelli races due to the difference in tyre life. Alonso and Hamilton were doing exactly the same thing (though of course Hamilton binned it when passing Kobayashi).

3) How he adapted and stretched his second set of softs to 17 laps while still maintaining scintillating speed that helped him run away with the race.

How did he adapt? Seemed to me that the tyre wear on a track that was rubbering was not such an issue with new tyres.

For me, it was one race in which Seb needed to call into many aspects of his driving - qualy pace, overtaking, tyre management - in order to pull it off. So it was only fitting that Horner described it as a "mature drive".

Well you're entitled to your opinion. Personally i think there are other wins even from that year alone that were more impressive.

[joshb]

Don't forget his race at Spa in 2011 was 1 year on from the horror show at the same track... I did wince a bit as he took to passing Rosberg around the outside of Blanchimont!

[Jimisgod]

Only Monza 2008 is memorable.

The rest just fade into one giant bland mass of Vettel fingerwaving.

No great wins like Kimi at Suzuka, Hamilton at Silverstone etc.

[st99]

Monza 2008
Spain 2011
Monza 2011
Germany 2013
China 2009
Silverstone 2009


Spacial mention to Abu Dhabi 2010, not the greatest race ever but it was the race when he won his first WDC and among his best races not won I would say China 2007 when he finished 4th with that Toro Rosso just a week after the disaster in Japan with Webber

[Risil]

Barcelona in 2011's a good shout. Brazil 2010 too.

Even the effect of the 2008 Italian GP was ruined slightly by not having to make a real start.

[sopa]

I don't know about the order, but Monaco 2011 was certainly edge-on-the-seat stuff. The argument about Belgium 2011 is strong as well. And Italy 2011, because usually Red Bull hasn't been strong there and due to low top speed Vettel had to capitalize and run away with the race early on not to get stuck.

[Kobasmashi]

1. Abu Dhabi 2010- 1st title
2. Germany 2013- Finally wins at home
3. Monza 2008- One of the great underdog wins
4. China 2009- First RB win in conditions so bad they'd never race in today
5. Monaco 2011- Holding on despite very worn tyres
6. Monza 2011- That pass on Alonso
7. Malaysia 2013- That race with Webber
8. India 2011- 1st Grand Chelem
9. Belgium 2011- Made more passes than a dodgy quiz contestant!
10. Singapore 2011- He was so dominant- without SC or backing off, he wins by almost a minute

Close behind
Turkey 11- wins after practise crash
Spain 11- Holds off Hamilton for an uncomfortable number of laps
Canada 13- Clears the ghost of 2011
Suzuka 10- Beats Webber at his best in a must win race
Brazil 10- Must win- despite a tricky qualy and a SC, wins it. Prelude to Abu Dhabi
Bahrain 12- Who need the Exhaust Blown Diffuser???
Bahrain 13- Passes Alonso and Rosberg like they weren't there
Suzuka 12- 29 points deficit down to 4 with a Grand Chelem

Wasn't Singapore 2011 the race where Button was like 2 seconds behind him?

In my opinion Spain and Monza 2011 were the best, even though he had the best car. For me Monaco 2011 would have been up there if not for the SC/red flag, as would Monza 08 had Bourdais not qualified p4 and Hamilton been faster.

Honourable mentions to China 09 and India 2011

[STRFerrari4Ever]

1. Abu Dhabi 2010- 1st title
2. Germany 2013- Finally wins at home
3. Monza 2008- One of the great underdog wins
4. China 2009- First RB win in conditions so bad they'd never race in today
5. Monaco 2011- Holding on despite very worn tyres
6. Monza 2011- That pass on Alonso
7. Malaysia 2013- That race with Webber
8. India 2011- 1st Grand Chelem
9. Belgium 2011- Made more passes than a dodgy quiz contestant!
10. Singapore 2011- He was so dominant- without SC or backing off, he wins by almost a minute

Close behind
Turkey 11- wins after practise crash
Spain 11- Holds off Hamilton for an uncomfortable number of laps
Canada 13- Clears the ghost of 2011
Suzuka 10- Beats Webber at his best in a must win race
Brazil 10- Must win- despite a tricky qualy and a SC, wins it. Prelude to Abu Dhabi
Bahrain 12- Who need the Exhaust Blown Diffuser???
Bahrain 13- Passes Alonso and Rosberg like they weren't there
Suzuka 12- 29 points deficit down to 4 with a Grand Chelem

I agree with pretty much all of those. Monza 2008 was particularly special for me because it was STR's first pole position and first victory and it came in the hands of my favourite driver.

2011 his wins were brilliant(Barcelona, Spa, Monza) in particular.

[joshb]

Wasn't Singapore 2011 the race where Button was like 2 seconds behind him?

In my opinion Spain and Monza 2011 were the best, even though he had the best car. For me Monaco 2011 would have been up there if not for the SC/red flag, as would Monza 08 had Bourdais not qualified p4 and Hamilton been faster.

Honourable mentions to China 09 and India 2011

He did, but Vettel was almost 20s clear before a mid race SC and then 15s clear until Button put in some fast laps towards the end and Seb took it very cautiously in traffic once he realized he didn't have the rubber left to set fastest lap for a possible grand chelem.

2011 Monaco is right up there too as don't forget it was only a 7 second pitstop which cost him the lead to Button originally which forced him to try a 1 stopper, sadly we never saw the last few laps in which Seb would've kept Alonso/Button behind to echoes of Senna v Mansell but still a good one

[Absulute]

Turkey 2010.

[fisssssi]

Turkey 2010.

Malaysia 2013.

[mnmracer]

What people seem to forget about Monaco 2011 is that Alonso was also on 36 lap old tires, and Button also had over 20 laps on his tires. They were on fresher tires, but by no means on fresh tires. If Vettel's can already make his tires last 56 laps, those 6 extra would not have made that big a deal against less-worn but still worn tires.

[TheThirdTenor1]

What people seem to forget about Monaco 2011 is that Alonso was also on 36 lap old tires, and Button also had over 20 laps on his tires. They were on fresher tires, but by no means on fresh tires. If Vettel's can already make his tires last 56 laps, those 6 extra would not have made that big a deal against less-worn but still worn tires.

2011 tyres had the cliff. Hembrey predicted that Vettel's tyres were about to hit the cliff.

[Mc_Silver]

1)Monza 2008
2)Monza 2011
3)Germany 2013
4)China 2009
5)Abu Dhabi 2010

[George Costanza]

No contest given the car, Monza 08. What a stunning drive.

[Jan.W]

Oops. Typo. Thanks for pointing it out.




Well many things.

1) How he clinched that pole by almost half a second in semi wet conditions.
2) How he charged back through the field after pitting on lap 6 to get rid of his first set of tyres that looked finished even before the race started.
3) How he adapted and stretched his second set of softs to 17 laps while still maintaining scintillating speed that helped him run away with the race.

For me, it was one race in which Seb needed to call into many aspects of his driving - qualy pace, overtaking, tyre management - in order to pull it off. So it was only fitting that Horner described it as a "mature drive".

Plus, his passing on Rosberg on the outside at Blanchimont

[Acathla]

His first victory was outstanding. The rest in the Red Bull, forgettable. I'm sorry, I really, really tried it but for me Seb won't go down as one of the greatest in Formula 1. Very good, but very lucky with his cars too.

[mnmracer]

2011 tyres had the cliff. Hembrey predicted that Vettel's tyres were about to hit the cliff.

Hembrey predicted Vettel's tires to hit the cliff 10 - 15 laps earlier already. Whatever Vettel did that day, whatever happened, there is little to suggest that it had ended in tears.

[apoka]

2011 tyres had the cliff. Hembrey predicted that Vettel's tyres were about to hit the cliff.

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said: "From the data we can see that Sebastian Vettel’s tyres would have gone the distance if he had continued to drive on them in the same way that he had been doing up to the red flag period."
http://www.f1fanatic...monaco-pirelli/

I know that strictly speaking "hitting the cliff" and "going the race distance" are not completely opposite, but at least it suggests that he would not hit the cliff.

[Zava]

Amazed that so many choose Abu Dhabi 2010. Okay, yes, he won his first title, but as a race it was mighty boring. Literally nothing happened thanks to nobody being able to overtake on such a crappy circuit.

I think it was special, because it was so close to failure on more occassions, and really needed perfection to go through.
the bigger key moments, where it could've easily gone wrong:
-IIRC, in qualy he chose another strategy than the others, who went 1-1 fast laps on 2 sets of option tyres, he chose 1 set with multiple fast laps, because tyre heat up was a problem for them. it paid off, won the qualy by a bee's dick in front of Hamilton (0.031)
-at the start, he was nearly done by Hamilton (and with the first place gone, gone is the WDC too), and the situation was also close to a left rear puncture (Hamilton felt the case so close that he even asked the pit if his front wing is all right)
-at the pit stop, he put in a great inlap, the mechanics produced a stunning pit stop (I saw a vid of the pit stop, which, unlike the live feed, kept pointing at the mechanics. the left front guy, after Vettel passed them, was punching the ground so hard with his palm, relieved from all the stress... maybe it was in the abu dhabi race edit), which, crucially, put the Kobayashi-Kubica duo between him and Hamilton by exiting in front of Kobayashi by a whisker. this helped Vettel by pulling a nice gap on Hamilton, thus easing off the pressure.

+ he made our Alonso fanatic commentator cry over ~40 laps

[Kelateboy]

Monza 2008. When you win in a TR, it is something to remember.

[TheThirdTenor1]

Only Monza 2008 is memorable.

The rest just fade into one giant bland mass of Vettel fingerwaving.

No great wins like Kimi at Suzuka, Hamilton at Silverstone etc.

At this stage of his career, Vettel hasn't amassed a huge amount of memorable wins, especially compared to say Schumacher or Alonso. As you say only Monza 2008 stands out. To be fair though, you can't really blame Vettel since he usually starts from pole and drives off into the distance, which will usually make a race quite dull to the casual observer.