"Vettel won't dominate like Schumi"
Friday 8th July 2011
Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button both believe Sebastian Vettel will never dominate Formula One as Michael Schumacher did last decade.
For five years Schumacher was virtually unstoppable, claiming five successive titles from 2000 to 2004 with Ferrari, and winning 48 of a possible 85 grands prix during that period.
Attempting to follow in his footsteps, at present Vettel dominates, with the 23-year-old en route to winning back-to-back titles.
Ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix, Vettel has been on pole in seven of the eight races this season, winning six and finishing second in the other two to open up a 77-point cushion over his rivals.
If you take the end of last season into account, Vettel has been on pole ten times in the last twelve grands prix, winning nine of those.
There is a fear the Red Bull star is exerting a stranglehold over F1 that will be difficult to break, as was the case with compatriot Schumacher.
But not, however, in the eyes of McLaren's British duo who believe there are too many variables in the sport now compared to a decade ago when Schumacher reigned supreme.
"I don't think it will happen. I think it's a different time, rules are changing all the time," said Hamilton.
"Red Bull have clearly established they're a strong team, but you have lots of other strong teams such as Renault who look like they are getting stronger this year.
"Then you've Mercedes who are there or thereabouts. You've even got Williams. Look at the changes they're going to have over the next couple of years.
"You never know if they're going to be back up there with us, which I think would be great for the sport.
"But I don't think it is the same situation. There was a lot more to it in the Schumacher days."
The British duo can boast they are the only drivers to have beaten Vettel this year, with Hamilton doing so in China and Button last month in Canada when he came from last to take the chequered flag.
In Button's eyes he feels they can be beaten on a more consistent basis as he said: "It's difficult to compare.
"They're extremely quick and they have the reliability. Last year they were quick, but they didn't have the reliability, so obviously they've taken a step forward.
"They're very strong in many areas so it's tough to beat them, but we've beaten them twice. It's not as much as we'd like to beat them, but they are beatable.
"Michael won 13 races or something (12 in 2004) at the start of one year, so we are just going to have to hope that doesn't happen.
"We are close to them. It's not like they have a massive, massive advantage, like one and a half or two seconds or something."
If Vettel can be believed, the German claims he has no idea of his daunting cushion at present, stating he does not want to even think of the gap.
There would appear to be a degree of kidology going on from Vettel, but with Button not fooled for a second.
"He doesn't really need to play any mind games does he? He is so far in front," said Button.
"He is a long way in front, and every driver would say 'I'm not looking at the points, not thinking about the championship', but of course he is.
"He will look at it and say 'I've a 77-point lead'. It's massive.
"If he wanted to he could just pootle around and get points and he would be fine, but that's not the way we are.
"We want to compete and we want to do the best job we can, so he will be quick and competitive all season.
"He's won the world championship before, he's a much more relaxed driver. We all are second time around when we try and fight for it.
"But I don't think he is playing mind games. I don't think he is that sort of person."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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