Sebastian Vettel is aiming “to close the chapter here with dignity” and “get myself back together” in his final six Formula 1 outings with Ferrari. But while he is certain to do so off track, achieving that on track might prove more difficult.
Ferrari’s struggles means it will be difficult for Vettel to challenge for more than minor points in the closing stages of 2020 even with recent car improvements, but what he will hope is to close the gap to team-mate Charles Leclerc and cut out the errors – such as his spin while chasing Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo in the last race at the Nurburgring – to get the best possible results.
Vettel admits he is dissatisfied with his performances given his average deficit to Leclerc in qualifying has been four-tenths of a second and he has scored only 17 points – just 21% of Ferrari’s total. Only Daniil Kvyat’s contribution to AlphaTauri’s total compared to team-mate Pierre Gasly this year is lower at 20.9%.
This means 2020 is comfortably Vettel’s worst season in F1. And it’s only the third time in 14 campaigns that he’s been outscored by his team-mate – the others being against Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull in 2014 where he still managed to contribute 41% of the team’s points and against Leclerc last year when just 24 points separated them.
“I have not been happy with my performances in some of the races this year,” Vettel told Sky Sports F1.
“I expect a lot from myself and I know and I feel I can do better.”
WHY VETTEL HAS STRUGGLED
While Vettel has had some good weekends – notably Hungary, where he finished sixth, and Spain where he took seventh place – it has mostly been a struggle.
Vettel managed to outqualify Leclerc twice in the first three races, but has been on the receiving end of eight consecutive Saturday defeats since then. He has been the lead Ferrari just twice in the eight races where both cars have finished – in Hungary and Belgium – although he was ahead when Leclerc’s error ruined both of their races in the Styrian Grand Prix.
Vettel’s problem is that the Ferrari SF1000’s biggest weakness chassis wise is the relatively weak rear end. Most drivers benefit from a stable rear end, but Vettel craves it so he can attack the corner, rotate the car precisely and get the power on. When it works, that technique is seriously quick, but he can be hesitant in corner entry if the rear end isn’t there.
Leclerc is happier hanging on to a more unstable rear end and it’s no coincidence that his biggest advantage over Vettel last year came when these characteristics were prevalent. A late-season upgrade boosted Vettel’s form and ensured he ended the season strongly, notably with a superb lap to take pole position at Suzuka, but the gap has opened again this season.
“This year’s car is not easy to drive for both of us,” said Vettel. “I’m sitting in all of the meetings that Charles is participating in as well and we share the opinion.
“It’s not always easy, but it’s quite clear going into the season, knowing you’re going to part ways, it’s going to be a different sort of love story.
“Nonetheless, I respect all of the work that has been going in on my side and in the last years, and therefore I’m willing to give my maximum back.
“It’s not been the easiest of years with where we are. The races as well here and there didn’t really go our way.
“Sometimes it’s like this and I have to push through and pull through and look forward to the new tracks we have and the races coming up to try and put things together a little bit more.”
That Vettel points to the change in dynamic caused by the fact he was told he would not be getting a new deal during F1’s hiatus is significant.
Given his determination to finish on a high, there might now be enough distance between the impact of that. With his future settled and his signature on a deal to move to Racing Point/Aston Martin in 2021 and just six races left as a Ferrari driver – taking him to a total of 118 starts and fourth in the all-time list for the Prancing Horse – the focus is clearly now on finishing on what modest high the car will allow.
While Leclerc has made progress with the car, Vettel hasn’t to the same degree. The time gap in free practice on day one of the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend wasn’t meaningful given they were running different specifications, with Vettel charged with conducting 2021-specification floor running, but this is a challenging circuit if a driver isn’t completely confident and able to commit on corner entry.
“It’s a bit independent from Charles,” said Vettel when asked why Leclerc is able to get more from the car than he is.
“He’s doing a very good job, and regularly seems to squeeze the maximum out of the car. From my side, it’s a bit different.
“It’s a very different year, very different circumstances going in, and probably not having the smoothest year doing what I can do, and not the easiest situation.
“But I’m willing to give everything that I can to try and improve, and towards the end of the year, get back to where I know and where I can be.”
“Before the next chapter starts I’ll try to close the chapter here with dignity” :: Sebastian Vettel
Qualifying will show where Vettel really is this weekend, but Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies suggested that he had made a positive start to the weekend – albeit downplaying suggestions of a breakthrough.
The priority is to ensure he reaches Q3 for only the fourth time this season, which will minimise the chances of Vettel “getting stuck”, as he has described it previously, down the order.
“We are always saying that the gaps are small,” said Mekies. “Here straight away, Seb had a good thing with the car so I don’t think there is a special breakthrough.
“I think he’s doing a very good job and I think there is a lot of time in hand in both our drivers and probably in a lot of the drivers in the field because again everybody has been operating quite far from ideal laps.
“He has been doing a very good job today with us and hopefully as a team we find a good way to get qualifying right tomorrow.”
WHY DIGNITY OFF-TRACK IS GUARANTEED
Despite the animosity that manifested itself between Vettel and those who made the decision not to retain his services, he retains a good relationship with the majority of those he works with at Ferrari. While his dream of winning the world championship with Ferrari will never be realised, his connection with the Prancing Horse remains strong.
“Ferrari has always had a special place in my head [and] in my heart because when I grew up, Michael [Schumacher] was my hero, and Michael at that time was in the red car,” said Vettel. “That’s where one part of the passion comes from.
“The second part is the standing that Ferrari has in Formula 1, being the only team in that has participated in all the races and so on, it is a special brand. I’ve had the privilege to live through those emotions together with the fans, with the team, and the country of Italy. I think that’s an enormous privilege.
“Things come to an end, so I’m very much looking forward to a new chapter that starts next year. But before that one starts; I’ll try to close the chapter here with dignity and try to get myself back together so I can deliver the sort of performances that I know that I can.
“Overcoming those obstacles, then be ready for the new chapter. I don’t think I’m that guy that bubbles up at the end and it all becomes super emotional. I think I’m realistic to know that things are going to an end. The situation in the team now is different to maybe a year ago or two years ago, we know where we are, where we’re headed.”
Vettel will also go down in history as one of Ferrari’s key drivers, as although he never managed better than second in the drivers’ championship or led the team to the constructors’ crown, he has won 14 races – behind only Michael Schumacher (72) and Niki Lauda (15).
Italy might criticise Ferrari’s drivers when they underperform, but it holds them in high esteem even once they have left Maranello and Vettel’s dignified final races with the team should ensure that’s the case.
While Vettel’s results in his final races for Ferrari likely won’t live up to his hopes – although he’s a driver capable of great things so can’t be counted out entirely – the role he’s played for Ferrari and the way he has conducted himself ensures he will be able to walk away from Maranello with his head held high. After all, a legacy is about more than results.
