[Official] Driver of the race- Singapore Grand Prix

[Marbot]

Vettel for me. It's not just the car.

Good drives from Raikkonen and Alonso.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

How on earth can that be bad for the sport?

This is how:

The story of his unbridled evil has been so twisted and convoluted over the years that no one is now quite sure where it began (although I get the vague sensation that the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix had something to do with it), but the fact remains that it is human nature (and I am somewhat guilty of this) to want to see the king dethroned viciously by the underdog. The villainous complex surrounding Vettel doesn't help matters. And three runaway races in a row in absolutely identical, idiotic style by Formula 1's new "dumb blonde" does indeed get a bit BORING after a while. It almost makes you want to quit wasting your time because you know the outcome. He absolutely dominates all of the Singapore-Abu Dhabi streak of racing and the title is essentially his. What is there to watch or get excited about? All I could find entertaining in Singapore was staring at that amazing opera house in the far-away shots. Viewership is going to go down once people shut off their TV in disgust after the first 15 laps as I did. Vettel is absolutely murdering the sport with his attitude and whinging/winning, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Formula 1 is becoming more and more like a circus. And F1 2013 will likely be named one of the most boring seasons of racing in the last decade.

[Spritle]

So what should be done about it?

Shoot Vettel, (which seems to be the preferred solution amongst many), limit all F1 drivers to one WDC or let the most cuddly driver win all the time.

This loathing of Vettel is unfounded, undeserved and ridiculous.

Your drivers (and mine) aren’t cutting it, get over it!!

[Beryl]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Wouldn't you vote for him if someone else did ?

Don't know. If others were giving him his due (IMO he probably outperformed Kimi, though that's hard to determine considering neither had much clean air before Rogro suffered an early demise) I probably would have gone with the obvious and voted Vettel.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Spritle

So what should be done about it?

Shoot Vettel, (which seems to be the preferred solution amongst many), limit all F1 drivers to one WDC or let the most cuddly driver win all the time.

This loathing of Vettel is unfounded, undeserved and ridiculous.

Your drivers (and mine) aren’t cutting it, get over it!!

I'm not a pro-Vettel fan but the domination doesn't worry me. If its boring go and do something else or if its shown at night I go to bed....

Simply I don't care too much any more because F1 doesn't mean anything to me any more. I used to be passionate about it but now its not the reason for getting up in the morning and never will be again.

I will discuss it on a forum but is it a 'must do' or a 'world changer' for me anymore? No.

[Mekola]

You're right, Teretonga. There are other motives...

[Peralta]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Sebastian Vettel. The on-form driver. How can anyone deny he's one of the best now? Seriously? Are people deluding themselves?

I am not deluded. I will go on record as to say he is the best of all time. Of all time. Above every drive who has driven a race car and for this he gets booed. Sad indeed.

[FAS33]

If you don't like the RBR domination in F1 go watch some Real racing instead.

like....... V8 Supercars, no redbull domination here.

[Aysedasi]

Hell, F1 is the 'pinnacle' - it's sacrilege to suggest there might be something else that presents better viewing......

[Oldtony]

Pole, drove away into the distance twice. Sure he has a great car but get used to it the guy is a class act.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by chunder

Not because Jenson won, not because it proved that under severe pressure Seb is vulnerable and makes mistakes, but because it was theatre, it was unknown until that last minute, it showed fallibility and also great skill and control.

THAT to me is racing, not leading by 2 seconds after one lap and not passing anyone for the rest of the race because your car is designed so perfectly.

Both are racing to me.

I don't see how a driver dominating isn't sport. Measures to stop it are, if anything, less sporty.

[Paradise City]

There's some bizarre posts on this thread. I think the sport has become too much of a business and we're basically congratulating Vettel for being a highly efficient employee. Like Gordon 'Greed is good' Gekko. The old virtues of heroism that in my view makes a great a real great doesn't count anymore. Virtues that made Stirling Moss a great whereas Piquet, who is very good, was not a great. Vettel is a 'great' because he achieves all his targets.

I wouldn't dream of sabotaging Vettel. Good sport allows the possibility of domination. My main advice to the sport is clear out the gimmicks and sort out the wings, otherwise if you're dominant, you're dominant and I'm content with that. That it might cull the popularity of the sport is a good thing not a bad thing.

That said, they'll probably react to any flagging popularity by cramming the sport with other disgusting gimmicks like reverse grids and success ballast.

[Born Racer]

Success ballast is horrible. If I didn't dislike the BTCC for its bumpercar racing driving standards, I wouldn't watch because of that (I haven't looked for a while to see if it still includes success ballast).

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Success ballast is horrible. If I didn't dislike the BTCC for its bumpercar racing driving standards, I wouldn't watch because of that (I haven't looked for a while to see if it still includes success ballast).

F1 needs to be a bit more like BTCC for me to regard it as true "racing". Success ballast, bumping, insane, risky blocking... all part of the show and part of the race. Just my two cents, I'm sure many others will disagree...

[Adam43]

It isn't primarily a show. It is a sport, a competition. It is good that it is entertaining, but that isn't the main reason.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Success ballast is horrible. If I didn't dislike the BTCC for its bumpercar racing driving standards, I wouldn't watch because of that (I haven't looked for a while to see if it still includes success ballast).

Myself, just can't be bothered with mum's taxi racing!

[F1Pete]

I just watched the race since I was gone moose hunting all week. My vote goes to Kimi hands down. That pass on Button while jacked on painkillers was awesome!