Vettel's Ferrari F1 Performance & Team Strategy

Arie - Mr Orange · 2019-01-08T05:12:27Z

Explore Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari F1 struggles and team dynamics in this 2019 analysis. Insights on driver pressure, strategy, and the rise of Leclerc.

He got a 4 year run but couldn’t make it happen. Last season must have been the best chance in years for Ferrari getting the world championship back but they ‘failed’ (side note: I don’t think they would have beaten Hamilton & Mercedes even without the mistakes).

Now to me it feels it was as much Vettel’s ‘fault’ as it has been the teams ‘fault’. Vettel lost serious points by simply cocking up under pressure. However the team (pit wall) has made some very stupid strategic decisions during races and technically the made a wrong turn as well mid season in the development war.

Vettel:
Once again this season has made me wonder if his former status of super talent has been just. He cracked under pressure at Red Bull when Ricciardo arrived. So he fled to Italy in order to chase his dream becoming Schumi II. Nothing wrong with that. But the last two years it seems once more that he simply can’t handle the pressure. In 2017 we heard a lot of uncontrolled swearing and weird moves on track (against Hamilton and Verstappen). And last year while having a serious opportunity to fight with Hamilton we have seen him making some almost rookie mistakes.

Ferrari:
So I have said it before and I will say it again; they need some more calmness on that pit wall (put it non offensive enough this time?). And for Vettel? I think it is a very good thing Ferrari finally picked some young talent instead of the always safe strategy of a seasoned first and second driver. Question now is: will Leclerc make Vettel crack this year? Will we see team mates crashing into each other? More Italian drama? Or will we witness the rise of Leclerc and Ferrari? Vettel is someone Leclerc can learn a lot from so I have good hopes we will get more Prancing Horse action in 2019.

The Discussion

Walter2

Jan 8, 2019

Ferrari is Italia, and Italia is Ferrari. You can criticizce the Vatican, but never Ferrari. They dont make mistakes, they are the mistake! I think the best is, they give ALO a chance for one year, together with Le Clerc and send the german back home to his wife and children.

myles721

Jan 8, 2019

Alonso is probably the finest driver of his generation. Hamilton as well but it is obviously the Mercedes team that makes the difference...Wolff, Lauda et al. Rosberg was very competitive with Hamilton but the constant was the team. Better car, better strategy, better organized. I love Kimi but he REALLY hurt the teams chances with dismal 6th place finishes.

zabreg1 Mr White

Jan 8, 2019

I personally find such comments offensive. Besides, Walter, I am willing to bet my wife would wipe the floor with you around any neutral track.

Arie - Mr Orange

Jan 8, 2019

Isn’t that all a bit blunt? Firstly; women usually don’t deliberately crash into other drivers out of anger. Secondly; women crash way less than men so that doesn’t add up as well. Thirdly; what does the Grand Wizard has got to do with Ferrari?

Arie - Mr Orange

Jan 8, 2019

He has got almost every skill needed, but he has a serious lack of team mentality. And I’m doubting is technical understanding / ‘translation’ of the cars as well. He has not been able to bring any improvement at McLaren and he has been saying more than once (and i quote) that they had the best chassis and if they would have a Renault.... Well....

NickO

Jan 8, 2019

How to drive an F1 flappy-paddle manual gearbox in our Maserati GrandSport. Within a month, she’s faster around the track then me - and my dad was a professional race car driver in his younger years so my speed genes are pretty decent! After nearly 20 years of marriage the only think I’ve discovered that I can do that she can’t is reach the top shelf in the kitchen without a foot stool 😀 NickO

Vettel's Ferrari F1 Performance & Team Strategy

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