user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Hamilton and Rosberg both deserve the title - Vettel

Hamilton and Rosberg both deserve the title - Vettel

  • Published on 18 Nov 2014 09:52
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Outgoing world champion Sebastian Vettel thinks it is possible Nico Rosberg will become his title-winning successor this weekend in Abu Dhabi. On paper, given his 17-point lead and run of form, Rosberg's Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton is the overwhelming favourite to secure his second career drivers' title.

But Vettel, who in Abu Dhabi will not only depart as reigning world champion but also race for Red Bull for the last time, insists Rosberg cannot be written off. "Both deserve the title," the German told Sport Bild. "Lewis won more races than Nico, but Nico has driven very consistently and cleverly. They are different kinds of drivers but both have done a very good job this year."

Vettel compared Rosberg's situation to his own first title in 2010, when both Fernando Alonso and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber were better placed to win the championship at the season finale. "Fortunately," Vettel said, "the others failed to bring home the points they needed."

"I was quite surprised," he added, "because the odds were that Fernando and Mark were much more likely statistically to be able to get the places they needed. So it's a similarly difficult situation for Nico now as it was for me back then," Vettel said. "I knew that my only chance was to win the (last) race, so I just tried to concentrate on what I had to do," he revealed. "I didn't want to be updated during the race on the provisional results of the world championship for example."

Meanwhile, Vettel admitted his last race for Red Bull this weekend will be a "strange and very emotional" experience. He is set to switch to Ferrari for 2015 and beyond, but thanked Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz for investing in him and bringing him to F1 stardom.

"Dietrich believed in me and said 'Give the boy a chance'," recalled Vettel. "It was at a time that was very difficult for me, because very few people believed in me. I got the chance and thank god it seemed to all work out," the quadruple world champion added. (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sebastian Vettel Mercedes Ferrari

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
141
2
Ferrari
120
3
McLaren
69
4
Mercedes
34
5
Aston Martin
33
6
Visa Cash App RB
7
7
Haas F1
4
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 526
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 148
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Mercedes
Mercedes
Show full profile
show sidebar