German won four championships and grew from spiky young antagonist to universally loved pillar of the sportBowing out with the crowd on their feet delivering a standing ovation and chanting your name is perhaps the fondest farewell a competitor can hope for. In Abu Dhabi on Sunday Sebastian Vettel called time on his Formula One career with just such a reception. Admired and respected, Vettel’s departure genuinely leaves the sport a little bit poorer.The 35-year-old completed his final GP at Yas Marina after 16 years in F1 and having won four world championships. It has been some career and notably for a perceptive, thoughtful character, one not of a straightforward trajectory. Here then was a man ending his career amidst...
Lewis Hamilton is aiming for an eighth title but faces a tough challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio PérezCar W12 Engine Mercedes Principal Toto Wolff Debut France 1954 GPs 227 Titles 7 Last season champions Continue reading...
Hamilton’s sixth title and Leclerc’s brilliant debut season shone this year, while Williams were left licking their wounds Related: Ferrari’s historic penchant for a good crisis remains – 90 years down the track | Richard Williams Related: Lewis Hamilton is not only a peerless champion, he is the face of F1 | Giles Richards Related: Lewis Hamilton speaking to Ferrari about ending F1 career with team Continue reading...
The case for Germanys four-time champion not being No 1 with the Scuderia next season is overwhelmingAlready beaten and bloody from a punishing season, Ferrari completed Paul Wellers Eton triumvirate by emerging from the Brazilian Grand Prix with sick down their shirt. Heading into the winter to regroup, the very last thing the Scuderia needed was for their drivers to clash on track and bring to a premature head the problem the team have in how they manage Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc next season. Indeed, what Brazil demonstrated is that they may have a problem that is simply intractable.At Interlagos the two drivers were set for a solid points finish when they came together battling for fourth. Leclerc had...
A battle for supremacy between teammates is troubling Ferrari after the meltdown in Sochi and all eyes will be on Suzuka this weekend to see if it can be rectifiedIf there was ever a doubt that a racing driver’s first priority is to beat his teammate, it was dispelled one March afternoon at Melbourne’s Albert Park. The 1996 Australian Grand Prix was half done when Jacques Villeneuve came out of the pits just behind the race leader, Damon Hill.“There he is,” said the voice on Villeneuve’s radio. “Go and get him!” Related: The knocks keep coming at Ferrari but Charles Leclerc is learning fast | Giles Richards Related: Ferrari create 'a war' while F1 continues to meddle with the rules...