2011 F1 Season Review -- Vettel's Year

When the 2011 Formula One season began back in March, Sebastian Vettel had been enjoying the fruits of winning his first World title just months before in Abu Dhabi. However, by the end of the season in Brazil just days ago, the German had never realized that his second title was more like a domination- something that had not occurred since 2004, when his mentor Michael Schumacher had clinched the title at Spa.

For Vettel, the title clincher was not as easy, thanks to the emergence of McLaren late in the season. But everything all started at the first race of the year in Australia, where Vettel began his stomping on the opposition and continued to do it again at the next race in Malaysia. But in China, the roles became reversed when Lewis Hamilton gave Mclaren their first victory of the season with a great last minute pass on the Red Bull driver. Although many figured that Vettel was done dominating, it simply was not true.

For the next three races in Spain, Turkey and Monaco, Vettel reigned supreme. And with Canada on the horizon, Vettel had already won five of the last six grands prix, and Canada probably could extend that streak. However, the race at Montreal was something that Vettel never made—a mistake. On the final lap of the race, Jenson Button overtook the German after Vettel overshot one of the corners, and won his first race of the year. Although there was now three week break in between, Vettel held a huge point advantage, and was hoping for more wins.

Vettel took the next race in Valencia, but when July came around, it seemed that Mclaren and Ferrari began to get a little closer to the Red Bulls, and a good strategy gave Fernando Alonso his first win of the year in Britain. Hamilton took his second win of the year in Germany, and Button did the same a week later in Hungary. But Vettel all the time was taking if not the top podium, but either second or third, which kept him well ahead as the summer break came in August.

But when the season resumed in Belgium, Vettel came on strong once again, and it did not stop as there were more victories in Italy and Singapore before the current World Champion realized that he needed only one point more to take his second title.

That came in Japan, at the famous Suzuka track, as Vettel took third, which was more than enough to become the youngest two-time World Champion in history But Button took his third win of the year.  And while Vettel might have just relaxed and placed well since he already won the title, but the German was having none of it as he took the next two races in South Korea and India, before doing the unthinkable—a retirement due to a flat tire on the first lap—a retirement he has not had in over a year. But at Abu Dhabi, which Hamilton took his third win of the season—something that gave him loads of confidence after suffering through an up and down year.

The final race in Brazil gave Vettel another problem- a gearbox malfunction that slowed him down. Despite the setback, Vettel held on to finish second, and only teammate Mark Webber was the only driver to pass him and go on to win his first race of the season. It ended an interesting year which saw nearly a title that might have been won earlier. But the success late in the year of McLaren, as both of their drivers won three races each, proved that it was not all a regular Red Bull win at every race. Ferrari managed to win one race, but improved by having Alonso stand on the podium more than once.

With all the success for Red Bull, could it be the same? With only one Lotus team in for next year, a company called Catheram in the mix, along with a Russian company named Marussa, it could be different.

Not to mention a Finn called Kimi Raikkonen back in the mix, could make it very interesting.

Bring on the winter tests.

Mark Gero

A 12 year veteran writer who has covered race weekends for RIS for three years. Also did the same for motorsport.com.For the last two years, I have been a member of AARWBA.

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Volume 2011, Issue 10, Posted 10:02 AM, 11.30.2011