Sebastian Vettel gets his own little corner of the Nürburgring
You know you've made it when they name a turn after you at the Nürburgring. Sebastian Vettel is only turning 22 this summer, yet he's already racked up an impressive collection of citations: not only is he the youngest to drive an F1 car on grand prix weekend, the youngest to qualify on pole, the youngest the lead a grand prix and the youngest to win a grand prix, but he's also won the Nations Cup at the Race of Champions, picked up the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy and had his school renamed in his honor. And now they're naming a corner of the Nürburgring after him.
Before you go riffling through the innumerable turns on the venerated Nordschleife, we'll point out that Vettel's corner is situated on the shorter, accompanying grand prix track that will play host to the German Grand Prix next season. The young German's name will adorn the sixth turn, previously unnamed, putting his handle alongside that of his mentor, Michael Schumacher, for whom the S complex bridging turns 9 and 10 is named. Automakers Ford and Mercedes, rubber companies Dunlop and Kumho along with Castrol and Coca-Cola also have turns on the "Grand Prix Strecke" named after them, though we have a feeling they might have paid a little more than Vettel for the naming rights.
[Source: F1-Live | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
car industry expert 11:32AM (6/28/2009)
Vettel isn't that good.
Reply
EU_reader 11:48AM (6/28/2009)
What's your problem? Jealousy is a cruel mistriss...
He's winning GP's with a Red Bull (!!) and hanging with the Brawn GP's in the front, without the fancy diffuser and KERS.
Red Bull buys Renault engines, so before you try to use that as an excuse, why are the 'real' Renault in the middle of the pack?
XGM 10:08PM (6/28/2009)
@ EU_Reader
He had the double diffuser for a while, and it was a new one for the British GP. Also Brawn use McLaren engines and they are at the back, so what is your point with Red Bull and the Renault ones ? That said, he is still a amazing driver with a really good team.
Fernando 10:01AM (6/29/2009)
Redbull only now put on the DD they did not have it until Silverstone if I am not mistaken.
Metar 6:04AM (6/30/2009)
They had it since Monaco. It was *updated* for Silverstone.
Richard 11:47AM (6/28/2009)
Premature - at best - for a guy who has yet to take the WDC! Must be a move to increase market share amongst young Germans.
Reply
Tony 12:37PM (6/28/2009)
I thought it was just a grandstand ... NOT a corner.
Here's my "work"
http://www.f1technical.net/news/12763?sid=04018f47410c97244dc1cf516e4a1718
@car industry expert, He is the youngest driver to a) score a point in an F1 race (Indy 2007) b) youngest driver to win an F1 race (Monza 2008) Honestly I don't think Hamilton is all that great, he just took advantage of a really good McLaren. If he was a great driver he would be doing better in a crappy car this year.
Reply
David Wiles 4:50PM (6/28/2009)
@Tony,
"I don't think Hamilton is all that great, he just took advantage of a really good McLaren."
Hamilton, driving the same car as the defending F1 champion, on many courses he had NEVER DRIVEN, came within two points of winning the WDC in his first season in F1. He won it in his second, even though his car was arguably not as good as the Ferrari which won the manufacturer's championship. His results (assuming results matter in arguments like), particularly his results in the wet, suggest that he is a very good driver.
car industry expert 1:12PM (6/28/2009)
Hammilton is one of the greatest drivers of all time, much better than Vettel.
Reply
cFoo 1:32PM (6/28/2009)
Right......and my grandmother drives circle around Michael Schumacher.
The only thing Hamilton does better than Vettel on and off the track is whine like a spoiled baby.
But I agreed with Richard, all the hype is premature. It reminds me of Mark Webber.
Jsams4131 3:56PM (6/28/2009)
wow its hillarious to see you bickering over who's the best..personally I'm a Hamilton fan all the way but that doesn't detract from Vettel's skill. BOTH are amazing drivers and them being in F1 proves it.
Hamilton with a Garbage chasis has been putting on a spectacular performance starting most of his races sub-10th place...while still making passes on much faster cars during the race.
Vettel's chasis has arguably F1's greatest aerodynamicist. Adrian Newey (sp)..with that said and Vettel's great driving...if anyone watched that last race, he was pulling away from the pack Shumacher style.
I won't say who's the best because at any given time there is no such thing.
Weaksauce 3:28PM (6/28/2009)
I'd like to reserve judgement for Vettel for a couple years, but he's making more progress, with less experience, than the BIG names in F1. And if it was the car that was THAT good this year, Webber would have a win. Maybe Webber isn't that good of a driver, and he's placed as a result of the good car.
Are we to argue that unless you win a championship that you can't be considered a good driver?
Barichello, Massa, Kubica, and Vettel are great drivers. They don't have championships but are still amazing behind the wheel.
Reply
Jsams4131 3:57PM (6/28/2009)
+1 mang