141 replies to this topic

[thez]

I am happy he left RB as it opened the door for Max but he must be thinking that if only he was patient for a few years he would most likely be fighting for the WDC title in 2017 with RB. He showed no loyalty and patience with the team. It was a case of  Vettel not thinking in the long term and making his decision based on emotions. 

 

Now Max is going to reap the benefits next year and be one of the favourites to win the WDC while poor Vettel struggles with a struggling Ferrari. I can't see him coming back to RB has that door is now shut since neither RB driver would be looking to leave the team for the next couple of years. 

[f1paul]

Simple answer. YES

[BuddyHolly]

Yes and quite frankly would you blame him?  Ferrari are giving off the feeling to me that they are heading back in to the utter shambles they were in in 80's and early 90's.  If I were Seb, I'd be looking at my contract for an out clause.

Edited by BuddyHolly, 27 October 2016 - 16:55.

[TomNokoe]

No. Neither are winning. Kimi is a better teammate for him than Max.

[Marklar]

No.

They didnt won anything yet. And he would probably be gone by now anyway because of the current driver pairing

Edited by Marklar, 27 October 2016 - 16:57.

[f1paul]

No. Neither are winning. Kimi is a better teammate for him than Max.

But I'd rather be in a Red Bull next year rather than a Ferrari

[KavB]

If Red Bull have the fastest car next year but Ferrari are not too far off to mount a title challenge, then I don't think he will feel regretful. I think his passion for driving for Ferrari would outweigh having a faster car. But if Ferrari have no chance and Red Bull are title challengers then he surely will feel some regret. 

 

But that was the advantage of having 4 WDCs behind his belt when he made the decision. It is only because he had so many championships that he felt that he was in a position where he could take a gamble and go to Ferrari. 

[Dr. Austin]

If Vettel were still at Red Bull and taking the same kind of drubbing he was getting from Ricciardo, Max would have replaced him by now. Vettel is probably happy to have what he does.

[kosmos]

No, do you think he want his reputation destroyed by Ric?. At least he is doing okish against Kimi, that's better than nothing.

Edited by kosmos, 27 October 2016 - 17:00.

[MikeV1987]

I highly doubt he his regretting leaving RB, he's driving for his dream team now and is following in the footsteps of his childhood hero. And besides, Ferrari isn't that bad, it's not like they're struggling to get into Q2 or anything.

Edited by MikeV1987, 27 October 2016 - 17:02.

[Clatter]

But I'd rather be in a Red Bull next year rather than a Ferrari

Far to early to be deciding on who has the best car for 2017. Really do need to wait until we see a wheel turned in anger.

[f1paul]

Far to early to be deciding on who has the best car for 2017. Really do need to wait until we see a wheel turned in anger.

Yep, I know but I expect Red Bull to be better than Ferrari next year, but I guess you never know in F1!

[TomNokoe]

But I'd rather be in a Red Bull next year rather than a Ferrari

But he has four WDCs already.

[f1paul]

But he has four WDCs already.

F1 drivers are always hungry for more

[Domi]

If he would , his reputation would have been propably smashed by Ricciardo. Unfortunately for him his reputation is being smashed anyway by old Raikkonen

[Marklar]

Yep, I know but I expect Red Bull to be better than Ferrari next year, but I guess you never know in F1!

The point is - and here it becomes complex - which role would Vettel have nowadays at Red Bull? This is not like Alonso after leaving Ferrari as the clear #1 or Hamilton leaving McLaren after his best season. This was Vettel leaving Red Bull after being crushed by his team mate. Had this continued I'm pretty sure that Red Bull would have dropped him anyway for Verstappen at some point. So viewing this from this point of view he did everything right.

 

Of course if you are assuming that he would have beaten Ricciardo in 2015 & 2016 and that Red Bull would ditch Ricciardo for Verstappen (or nobody) and if Red Bull becomes a championship contender, then he did a mistake. But it's not clear whether this scenario is even likely and so it is in my opinion not possible to say if it was regretable to leave Red Bull even if they have a WDC car next year.

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

Surely Sebastian Vettel regrets four things:

 

1. Leaving uncle Adrian Newey (THAT IS FOR SURE)

2. Telling everyone he is so passionate about Ferrari. (Sebastian Vettel has to prove everyone by staying at least 5 season at Ferrari)

3. Learning Italian songs and sentences (Oh God that accent is horrible)

4. Insisting on Kimi Riakkonen to stay at Ferrari for 2016 and beyond.

 

Please, Don't take it personal or serious 

Edited by RYARLE, 27 October 2016 - 17:26.

[thez]

If Vettel were still at Red Bull and taking the same kind of drubbing he was getting from Ricciardo, Max would have replaced him by now. Vettel is probably happy to have what he does.

 

He wont be happy if RB are the team to beat next year. Vettel would 100% rather be in a winning car with a tougher team mate than a slower car with a team mate he can beat. The same would be said for any F1 driver. One thing I am sure about it is that if DR and Vettel were team mates in a WDC winning car you will see Vettel step up to a higher level and beat DR. Some drivers are just not the best with cars that are under performing also some drivers come alive when they can sense the chance of victory. This very much applies to Vettel. 

[superden]

No, probably not.

[LiftAndCoast]

I think that like many things in life, you're better off trying, and it not quite working out, than spending the rest of your days wondering "what if"?

He had nothing left to prove at Red Bull, and I give him great credit for taking the risk.

Like Hamilton to Mercedes, or Alonso to McLaren, sometimes you have to jump and see what happens. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Besides, we won't be able to make a final judgment until their (Vettel and Alonso, at least) careers are finished.

[dierome87]

If Vettel were still at Red Bull and taking the same kind of drubbing he was getting from Ricciardo, Max would have replaced him by now. Vettel is probably happy to have what he does.

 

Yup. In a way, it is a blessing in disguise.

 

It's crazy though. This guy was in the top of the world just 3 years ago, after winning 4 championships on the trot. Now, he is probably not even of the top 4 drivers of the grid. 

[LuckyStrike1]

No. 

 

He wanted to go to Ferrari. He had a chance to go to Ferrari. He took it. He is a four-time world champion now driving for Ferrari. So what's to regret? 

 

[sennafan24]

 One thing I am sure about it is that if DR and Vettel were team mates in a WDC winning car you will see Vettel step up to a higher level and beat DR. Some drivers are just not the best with cars that are under performing also some drivers come alive when they can sense the chance of victory. This very much applies to Vettel. 

Let's not re-write history. According to Red Bull engineers, Vettel's problem in 2014 wasn't motivation or not "coming alive". He just couldn't get the car to perform as well as Danny could. In fact, Vettel was said to over-drive the car at times.

 

To answer the question. We'll see how things pan out in the next few years. At the moment, it looks like he'll be racing for podiums, rather than wins and WDC's

Edited by sennafan24, 27 October 2016 - 17:57.

[garoidb]

He is making a tonne of money, which is the most important thing, and he has not lost any WDC through being at Ferrari for the last few years (unless he had an offer from Mercedes). If he, or anyone else, thought he would make the difference at Ferrari, well, you have your answer.

[Craven Morehead]

Sébastien has fifty million reasons to be happy at Ferrari.

[thez]

I think that like many things in life, you're better off trying, and it not quite working out, than spending the rest of your days wondering "what if"?

He had nothing left to prove at Red Bull, and I give him great credit for taking the risk.

Like Hamilton to Mercedes, or Alonso to McLaren, sometimes you have to jump and see what happens. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Besides, we won't be able to make a final judgment until their (Vettel and Alonso, at least) careers are finished.

 

The irony is that the 'what if' would apply to him if RB build a strong car next year. There would have been no what if's if he had stayed with RB as he could had seen that Ferrari was a lost cause. Next year it is likely he would be thinking 'what if' I had stayed with RB. 

[ebc]

I still think he is the fastest driver when he has a car that he is completely comfortable with so if he gets that at Ferrari and it is competitive with the best of his rivals then he will win more titles.

[MrMan]

 

VS

 

[Saivelynn10]

Vettel wanted to race for Ferrari and now he is. That's it. This thread is a waste of time. 

[Eerko]

I do not think Vettel has regrets leaving RBR. Sure, he must be sour Ferrari is behind RBR these days, but his main dream was to follow in Schumacher's footsteps and therefore you must go to Ferrari. 
But be sure to never give up on these red guys....maybe they will surprise us next year, asking...."Does anyone think Ricciardo and Verstappen were right to sign up with RBR?" 

[THEWALL]

Everyone's fascination with Ferrari ends the first time they are in a meeting with Ferrari's real powerful people after a bad weekend...

[Quickshifter]

The only thing Vettel probably regrets is not keeping his reputation intact as one of the top three best three drivers on the grid.

[johnmhinds]

I'm sure he is sobbing in his giant pool of money.

[GoldenColt]

Yes because of the car and development.

 

No because of the drivers he'd have to face (Ricciardo or Verstappen).

[ViMaMo]

No, do you think he want his reputation destroyed by Ric?. At least he is doing okish against Kimi, that's better than nothing.

Hehe. Suddenly, Kimi as a baseline sounds shocking. NOOOOO Kimi.

Seb went looking for gold and dream to drive for Ferrari.

[Eerko]

The only thing Vettel probably regrets is not keeping his reputation intact as one of the top three best three drivers on the grid.

 

Thats an understatement 

 

Nowadays he is 1 of Statler and Waldorf, together with Kimi

 

Edited by Eerko, 27 October 2016 - 18:31.

[GoldenColt]

 

VS

 

 

But as we all know, what he really cares about is this

 

 

instead of this

 

[markelov74]

No. He had have to endure 2015 when the car was in the bottom half of the points and can you imagine Vettel battling away with Maldonado, Ericsson and Nasr for tenth and eleventh place? He won three races in 2015 with Ferrari and Red Bull have won two races this year, and the Red Bull win's have been pure luck but his Ferrari wins in 2015 were on pure pace

[kevinracefan]

But I'd rather be in a Red Bull next year rather than a Ferrari

you must be the Great Kreskin..

 

you DO realize they're still saddled with a less powerful lump..

 

there's a boatload of people here who presume the RB-13 will be a championship contender...

 

#heresatip  if Renault doesn't find another 40 - 50 HP the RB-13 will be fighting for podiums not wins..

 

sorry to be a buzzkill

[johnmhinds]

No. He had have to endure 2015 when the car was in the bottom half of the points and can you imagine Vettel battling away with Maldonado, Ericsson and Nasr for tenth and eleventh place? He won three races in 2015 with Ferrari and Red Bull have won two races this year, and the Red Bull win's have been pure luck but his Ferrari wins in 2015 were on pure pace

 

You mean the 2014 where he finished 5th? Yes, boo hoo to that guy... 

 

Do you guys think everyone who doesn't finish in the top 3 in the championship suddenly becomes suicidal or something? Most drivers would sell their mothers to have a career half as good as Vettel's has been so far.

Edited by johnmhinds, 27 October 2016 - 18:45.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Nah.

What's there to regret?

Enormous paycheque? Check
Driving for his dream team? Check
Already has multiple titles under his belt? Check
Driving for a competite team? Check
Decent team mate? Check

He isn't losing any sleep.

[Lights]

Now Max is going to reap the benefits next year and be one of the favourites to win the WDC while poor Vettel struggles with a struggling Ferrari.

 

Boo-hoo. Poor Vettel? Poor, really? Ha. There's nothing about his career that's poor, he's one of the luckiest drivers in the history of the sport. He lucked into Red Bull's success and was seen as an absolutely top driver because of that for several years, until he couldn't live with Ricciardo and had to get out of there to save his reputation. Surely he's happier now to have Kimi next to him and be the main driver at Ferrari. He's still fighting at the front, it could be a lot worse.

 

For the rest, exactly what ConsiderAndGo says.

[David1976]

I think Seb is regretting leaving Red Bull big time. I am sure he wanted to emulate Schumachers success there, at least in part, but ever since he joined the team have gradually been reverting to their 80's heyday. Occasionally brilliant, frequently lacklustre and highly political.

[karl100589]

Depends on what he wants to define his career by:

If Sebastian wants the simple aim of claiming more wins and championships then leaving Red Bull was the worst choice. RB will always have a better tactical and technical expertise then Ferrari and keep themselves at the top of the game in spite of any regulation changes.

 

If he wants to improve his legacy though then he has done the right thing. It's easy enough to keep moving to the top teams to artificially build your portfolio, but for me it is a sign of a great champion for them to abandon the early challenge and go for long-term goals. Michael could have very easily stayed at Benetton or moved to Williams after 1995, but instead set himself the mission of taking Ferrari from the wilderness and turning them back into a competitive force in the sport, knowing that if he was successful he would be remembered as a legend for it. As we've seen with Alonso at McLaren or Damon Hill driving the Arrows, sometimes the best qualities of a champion come when they are forced to struggle and face adversity, qualities which Vettel right now is not demonstrating at all.

[Alonsofan007]

not yet, they are just going thru this poor frustrating season coz they shifted focus very early to next year,  so this slump is to be expected, i expect them to be strong next season, but james allison leaving is huge setback IMO, now i wonder how that is going to affect them next year. Next  year is very important for both him and team.

[pdac]

If he wants to silence those critics who think that he only won because of Neweys cars, then he has to be somewhere else. Neither Red Bull nor Ferrari are at the top. Which one has the best possibility of making it there again is not clear. So I think it was neither a mistake to leave nor would it have been a mistake to stay. I'm sure he's not losing any sleep over his decision.

Edited by pdac, 27 October 2016 - 19:40.

[markelov74]

You mean the 2014 where he finished 5th? Yes, boo hoo to that guy... 

 

Do you guys think everyone who doesn't finish in the top 3 in the championship suddenly becomes suicidal or something? Most drivers would sell their mothers to have a career half as good as Vettel's has been so far.

 

No if he stayed at Red Bull he would have to stay for 2015 where they were fourth in the constructors and had that terrible Renault engine...

[Kev00]

How about asking where Vettel would be now if he had stayed at Red bull. He was beaten by Ricciardo in 2014 and the car was a lot less competitive in 2015. That would have been a real test of his patience and his talent. Also if he had lost to Ricciardo two years running then that would have also dented his reputation. And I'm sure for 2017 Red bull would be looking for a seat for young Max Verstappen to prevent him being poached by Mercedes or Ferrari. Who knows, maybe it could have been Vettel at Renault instead of Hulkenberg.

[doc83]

Depends on what he wants to define his career by:

If Sebastian wants the simple aim of claiming more wins and championships then leaving Red Bull was the worst choice. RB will always have a better tactical and technical expertise then Ferrari and keep themselves at the top of the game in spite of any regulation changes.

 

If he wants to improve his legacy though then he has done the right thing. It's easy enough to keep moving to the top teams to artificially build your portfolio, but for me it is a sign of a great champion for them to abandon the early challenge and go for long-term goals. Michael could have very easily stayed at Benetton or moved to Williams after 1995, but instead set himself the mission of taking Ferrari from the wilderness and turning them back into a competitive force in the sport, knowing that if he was successful he would be remembered as a legend for it. As we've seen with Alonso at McLaren or Damon Hill driving the Arrows, sometimes the best qualities of a champion come when they are forced to struggle and face adversity, qualities which Vettel right now is not demonstrating at all.

 

Ah jeez.....Not this again.

[AustinF1]

 

Does anyone think Vettel is regretting leaving Red Bull?

Absolutely.