Vettel vs Hamilton: the much-anticipated duel

At a time when Formula 1 is undergoing a transformation, it’s good to rely on dependable values. An essential ingredient of the show, the top-tier duel writes the major chapters of the premier discipline. For this, the fierce competition between garage teammates differs from the one opposing the spearheads of two teams. In this regard, the 2017 season is on the verge of choosing its side, the latter. Even though Bottas is still within striking distance (33 points behind the championship leader), Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton grab the spotlight, with eight combined victories evenly distributed across the eleven Grand Prix of this first part of the season. Yet, as curious as it may seem, the evolution of their respective careers has never resulted in such a scenario!

Two roads, one same purpose

Arriving three months apart in 2007, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are the two current references in Formula 1. Despite the brave Fernando Alonso’s efforts (three-time runner-up in machines with intrinsically inferior performances!), it is indeed his fellow competitors who have monopolized the honors, with seven combined titles over the past eight seasons. The record is equally damning in terms of pole positions or victories since the Australian Grand Prix in 2007.

(So, in total: 103 combined victories Vettel-Hamilton in 199 Grand Prix, for a ratio of 52.98%)

(For a total of an even more impressive 115 cumulative pole positions, for a ratio of 59.07%!)

So close, yet so far, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton did not end up dueling for the title. That being said, in November 2008, the young Red Bull protégé almost disrupted the plans of McLaren’s hope in Sao Paulo. His overtaking move three laps from the end momentarily stripped the Briton of the world crown, saved by a slow-moving Timo Glock in the final corner. On this subject, Hamilton jokingly remarked in Melbourne that 2017 would finally give him the chance to take his revenge after this offense.

Revelation from the start, Hamilton fought for the title on board his McLaren, against his teammate Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen, during his first stint at Ferrari. Vettel climbed the ranks more patiently, only joining the paddock in Indianapolis, in the BMW left vacant by Robert Kubica, who was violently crashed at the previous round in Montreal.

The following year, Hamilton was still battling at the top against the two Ferraris of Räikkönen, the outgoing champion, and Felipe Massa. Against the Brazilian, he clinched his first title in the circumstances mentioned above. Vettel “merely” entered the pantheon as the youngest Grand Prix winner, after his first surprise victory in the rain at Monza.

But from 2009, the scene changed: Hamilton struggled with a stubborn McLaren while Vettel emerged at the wheel of the first Red Bull-branded rocket. His runner-up title was just a prelude to the sweep achieved over the next four seasons. Even though Hamilton had strong assets, the reliability of his McLaren left him powerless against Vettel’s dominance, who was crowned four times.

The 2013-2014 off-season once again turned the hierarchy upside down. The V8 was shelved. The hybrid V6 emerged, much to the delight of Lewis Hamilton, who had since joined Mercedes. Still powered by the Red Bull-Renault duo, Vettel experienced terrible reliability issues, prompting him to leave at the end of the season to write a new chapter with Scuderia Ferrari. His first two seasons were filled with highs and lows, marked by three victories, all in 2015, but also by some controversies, such as during a heated Mexican Grand Prix, racing wheel-to-wheel with Max Verstappen in October 2016.

That being said, the entry into the new year opened a new chapter. The SF70-H was well-born and was returning to par in terms

performance! With a shorter wheelbase, the new Ferrari performs well in slow, technical corners. On the other hand, the W08, still equipped with a powerful engine, maintains the advantage on high-speed tracks and corners. Ultimately, the Mercedes does not dominate in all areas of the game, and that is the difference with previous seasons!

From Australia, Sebastian caused Lewis to falter with a strategically decided success during the pit stop. Hamilton himself tipped his hat to the hard work carried out by the opponent.

This year, you’re going to see the best against the best, admitted at the time the driver wearing the number 44. Despite his victory in China two weeks later, the Englishman remained very cautious and a good sport, noting that it was achieved after an intense but respectful battle. The quest for this championship would simply be one of the most intense known during his career!

At the start of the season, Hamilton seemed to trust Vettel for a fierce battle. We are big boys. I have immense respect for him, he’s even one of the greatest I have compared to other drivers.

Interviewed in early July by Mark Webber, Vettel was on the same wavelength and praised Hamilton’s merits, with one exception!

« We raced together in Formula 3 (specifically during the 2005 season). I was in my first year, he was in his second. Everyone was blown away. I didn’t have many chances to beat him! Regardless of the conditions, he was always ahead performing. And at this level, you can be good one day, but over the whole year, it’s no longer luck. But beware, he is not unbeatable! »

Like a small barb, this final sentence rightly highlights the ambivalence of the Vettel-Hamilton relationship. And try as you might to change it, true nature always resurfaces: the pressure of leadership led to intense battles in the 2017 season.

The first was on the occasion of the Spanish Grand Prix. After rejoining the track following his pit stop, Vettel’s Ferrari hurried to get ahead of Hamilton’s Mercedes at the first corner. Without a hitch, the driver in red delayed his braking and took the Silver Arrow off the track. However, this maneuver proved futile as Hamilton took his revenge a few laps later, ultimately claiming the victory! Happy, the Briton didn’t overdo it and simply admitted that motor racing should always be like that!

It was only a matter of time.

The Baku Turn

Without warning, the Azerbaijan urban circuit marked a turning point. From a position of strength, the power of the Mercedes engine gave Lewis Hamilton a clear advantage, propelling him towards victory, beyond the hurdles and numerous yellow flag/safety car sequences. But behind, Sebastian Vettel was lurking, with a worn-out engine.

Under the Safety Car regime, Hamilton was preparing to restart hostilities. Vettel stayed close to avoid losing too much ground on the long start/finish straight. Perhaps a little too close. In fact, the Briton chose not to accelerate out of the corner: the collision between the two was inevitable.

Exasperated, Vettel then pulled up alongside him and explained his point of view with a furious fist. The two cars made contact again, in a grotesque scene.

The nervousness of the former Red Bull driver was indeed resurfacing, fifteen days after another tumultuous episode in Canada, where he was hit by Verstappen at the start. In any case, it was too late: the damage was done. Especially since Vettel’s stop-and-go penalty decided by the stewards still allowed him to come out ahead of Hamilton, who had to stop once again due to a faulty headrest.

At the end of the race, Hamilton, calmly, accused his opponent in the public eye.

To be honest, he discredited himself. If he wants to prove to me that he is a man, I think he should do it face to face, outside the car.

But for Vettel, the responsibility was by no means his, at least in the heat of the moment. It’s quite obvious. I didn’t hit him intentionally. No one wants to ruin their race. I just wanted to show him that he had no right to do that. Ultimately, the telemetry proved him wrong.

Two weeks later, the press room was packed to hear the verbal explanation from the two men. But both were careful not to add fuel to the fire. As with Hamilton:

« I leave that in Baku behind me. We talked after the race with Sebastian, we exchanged messages the next day. I always have the utmost respect for him as a driver. All I told him was that I didn’t brake to trap him. I wanted to clarify this situation. » But reading between the lines, the Hamilton-Vettel relationship was changing. The gentlemanly intentions were giving way to a cold determination, at least in front of the cameras.

Unthinkable at the start of the season, Hamilton refused to shake hands with Vettel in a staged scenario orchestrated by Davide Valsecchi during the post-qualifying interview. Even though the truth off camera was entirely different…

Outlook for the end of the season

As the championship resumes this weekend, the competition will only intensify. The layout of the next two circuits confirms this hypothesis. Mercedes is the favorite for the high-speed sequence of Spa-Monza. And if Hamilton wins both races, he will – at worst – catch up to Vettel in the overall standings. In the longer term, the German will also be under pressure. Having used his four allotted engines, he can already expect to face grid penalties toward the end of the season. In this context, Hamilton will also be assisted by a performing Bottas, who will likely have to return the favor from the last finish in Hungary.

This year, Formula 1 is thus on the verge of reigniting the flame. That of the great battles of the past, pitting the two illustrious drivers of the decade against each other. For both, the challenge meets expectations. Great, the new season is in sight!

Sebastian Vettel v Lewis Hamilton
At the moment they are very evenly matched we will see what happens between here and the end 🏎 pic.twitter.com/YC5miOpud9

— F U E R A (@adgonzi_01) 12 août 2017