Comments on 'Sebastian Vettel Gets Speed's Seat' on F1 Insight

Comment by sidepodcast.com

31/07/2007 14:04:14

of course, vettel could potentially still make a return to BMW in the future. this could be a temporary move.

Comment by Clive

31/07/2007 14:11:36

Absolutely, Sidepod (may I call you Sidepod? :D) - but not next year, I think, as Heidfeld and Kubica have more or less got that wrapped up. And a lot can happen in a year of F1 races...

Comment by Dan M

31/07/2007 14:16:42

Truly unfortunate....... Although I think we're are the only ones that feel this way. Also I question if Vettel and Bourdais are as good as everyone thinks. Vettel did score a point, but he did it in a car that should have finished in the top 6 (considering Nick DNF'ed). Bourdais' ability is a little harder to judge, Champ Car runs mostly on road courses that seem to reward consistent safe laps and the ability to save fuel. Not to mention that his team has dominated the sport and most likely will continue after his move to F1. It is also worth mentioning that he hasn't dominated this year, in fact he has had problems with some up and coming rookies. Not very impressive considering how watered down Champ Car talent has become. PS Just wanted to mention that Montoya finished second at Indy this weekend. I think hes a great fit for Nascar and his attitude has been great. Maybe will see Speed be the next high profile star coming to the sport. Every driver that isn't from the deep south helps with the stereotype Nascar has been burdened with. It would probably hurt his reputation in the eye of the European, but its time he came home!

Comment by Clive

31/07/2007 14:29:53

True, Dan, now we will get to see just how good Vettel really is. He has chosen probably the hardest way there is to make his mark and I hope he manages it - always thought the guy has great potential. As for Speed, I hope he does return to the States and get a decent drive in Champ Cars or NASCAR. Plenty of people even in Europe are watching Montoya's progress and it will be interesting to see whether Scott can blow everyone away in American racing. That's a good point about NASCAR getting away from its good-ole-boys image too - what better way to do it than have a few ex-F1 drivers in there punching? Oops, perhaps I shouldn't have said "punching" - that can happen in NASCAR too, from what I've heard... ;)

Comment by Dan M

31/07/2007 14:54:25

Good point, here is my view of Nascar: Rubbin' is racing. If your not cheating your not trying. If your not fighting, go to open wheel! Again, I'm pulling for Speed to go into Nascar, he wouldn't get any publicity in Champ Car. Hey, maybe him and Montoya would even become good friends, they already have something in common: I believe Montoya was quoted (and I will paraphrase) "You couldn't pay me to go back to F1, I love the competition here in Nascar, something that wasn't in F1". Sounds familiar....... Ill see if I can locate the interview.

Comment by Clive

31/07/2007 15:46:28

I'll say this for NASCAR, they've accepted Montoya into the fold very quickly and easily. Gave him the odd shove to begin with but now he's one of them. And Scott might get the occasional ribbing as "that there surfer boy from Californ-eye-ay" but it would all be good natured, I'm sure. Yeah, let's hope he goes to NASCAR.

Comment by milos

31/07/2007 16:42:58

Vettel - Another of the Macau GP "graduates" with the race seat in F1 ... Toro Rosso will likely be only the F1 warm up seat for him. If he is as talented as people say, he will not be stuck and the bottom of the grid for too long.

Comment by Clive

31/07/2007 16:53:40

That's the plan, Milos, I'm sure - for Vettel to progress from STR to greater things. What this early move means, however, is that he has to deliver the goods pretty quickly. Hamilton's immediate success has raised the bar for all new entrants to F1 and we are now expecting them to be good right from the start. If Vettel, doesn't become obviously quicker than Liuzzi in the STR in the remaining races this year, his reputation for speed will be severely dented. F1 can be an unforgiving place...

Comment by Björn Svensson

01/08/2007 15:06:09

This is what i had expected should have happened right after Scott made the comments after the last race. I have to say i'm more than a little surprised it took so long time for it to materialize. If there have been such harch doings going on in the team between a teamleader and one of his drivers, there's no way the driver is ever going to find the motivation to do his best for the team ever again. No matter what money or excuses he gets. And talking about Vettel, i believe this is the worst ever decision he could make. Yes, he is going to drive a F1-car, but that's all. He is going to drive in a team haunted by bad strategies, bad setups, bad speed in the car, horrendeous pitstops, unexplainable things happening to the car. I mean, it is not by any way Speed's or Liuzzi's fault the car has finished in just half the races it have competed in. Even Super Aguri would have been a better team to go to. Considering the means and finances that team have, they are doing an awesome job. And then, i believe that Takuma Sato must be an incredibly good person to have as teammate. I have never seen any other driver with so much energy in his work. Best of luck Scott, with what ever you do in the future. But honestly, i'm not going to miss you in F1.

Comment by Clive

01/08/2007 15:23:34

All very good points, Björn, except that there is a faint possibility that you haven't seen the last of Scott Speed yet. This morning there are reports that Scott's contract hasn't been cancelled and that more will be announced after the Hungarian GP. That leads to speculation that STR might boot out Liuzzi and put Speed in his seat - sounds very unlikely to me but, where the STR managers are concerned, it seems that just about anything can happen. It may be that I was right about Red Bull leaning on their junior team and that a rather complicated agreement has been thrashed out. Vettel is a Red Bull driver, just as Scott is, so RBR would not have been averse to him getting the STR drive; but they would have wanted something for Scott too. And, as I've been pointing out a lot lately, Scott has been doing better than his team mate this year... The whole thing is becoming as intricate a drama as the Ferrari documents furore and I am left shrugging my shoulders and saying, "Let's wait and see." What you say about Takuma Sato is spot on. The guy is really good value for money, enthusiastic as hell, very quick and the nicest guy in F1 by all accounts. And you're right about Super Aguri - from being the paddock joke of last year they have progressed to become a model of how a small team should be run.

Comment by Alianora La Canta

01/08/2007 23:40:13

Vettel must be at STR for Hungary - it's too late to change the race entry list. In fact, I don't think Scott will be returning to STR, because STR's behaviour towards him has been so disgusting - a literal slap on the back (in the Nurburgring paddock) followed by a metaphorical slap in the face (STR say Speed's in without asking him, then say he's out without asking him) is not the way to win friends and influence people. Especially when they're as plain-thinking and plain-spoken as Scott Speed. Best wishes to Scott, whatever happens next and wherever he eventually races. I don't think Vettel stands a chance at STR. Not only is the political situation likely to prevent him from deploying the full extent of his talent, but he is also contracted to Red Bull from 2009, and I think BMW's release of Vettel signals that no vacancies in BMW for 2008 are foreseen. Vettel could be stuck in a dead-end seat for a loooong time - or thrown out with the bathwater - unless either Coulthard or Webber retires to leave a Red Bull (dare I say proper team) vacancy.

Comment by Clive

02/08/2007 00:08:59

All true, Alianora (as usual!), although I am hoping that Vettel is so good that he shines even in an STR. It would put Scott more into perspective, it's true, but it would also be a terrible shame for such a bright young prospect as Vettel appears to be to have his chances snuffed out so early.

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