Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Commentary

Nice guys don't win F1 titles - Surer

The triple world champion's reputation has come crashing down

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: XPB Images

Apr.12 (GMM) The big victim of the 'Multi-21' affair has been Sebastian Vettel's image.

Previously the British humour-cracking and Beatles-loving 'Mr Nice Guy', the triple world champion's reputation has come crashing down after ignoring team orders in Malaysia and then declaring Mark Webber didn't "deserve" to be left in the lead.

"He (Vettel) seems like an easy-going character," Jenson Button said in China on Thursday.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: XPB Images

"It's surprising for him to say that."

John Watson, a former McLaren driver, said he was also surprised by Vettel's furrowed-brow outbursts on Thursday.

"He apologised profusely in Malaysia and now he's gone back on it," he told the Telegraph.

"It's as though Bambi has turned into a werewolf."

Some F1 purists are fond of ruthless, win-at-all-costs greats, but Watson said Vettel's nastiness has been unseemly.

"I've tried to lead my life with certain values in place and the way Vettel has behaved makes me think 'I don't like you'," the Briton admitted.

Similarly, Fernando Alonso has never shied away from a fight and is regarded as perhaps F1's toughest character, but he insists that even ruthlessness has its limits.

"Casillas is employed by Real Madrid to keep the goals," he told Spanish reporters in China. "He can't just play striker if he wants to."

Former driver and German-language commentator Marc Surer said the Vettel saga is simply an illustration that nice guys don't win.

"It's unfortunate that a nice driver cannot be world champion," he is quoted by SID news agency. "The only exception is Jenson Button.

"Otherwise, all of them have such strong egos, pursuing their goals without regard for others."

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Mercedes also scraps team orders - Lauda
Next article Massa sets the fastest lap in Chinese GP Friday practice

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA