The Top Dog for Valencia is...
- Published on Jun 27th, 2011 by Benson Jammichello"Hot Rod or Hot Dog" is our regular post-grand prix column where we review all of the driver performances in that race. As part of the process, one driver is declared as Badger's "Top Dog"; it's not necessarily the winner and, to be honest, it could be for anything.
It has to be...Vettel
Right, we don't think this is going to be universally popular. We're not stupid.
However, in a race so totally bereft of excitement, interest, verve, vigour or vim we're left in a quandry. Do we want to praise the man who's clearly got the best car and the advantage of being able to drive serenely away into the distance while those behind him squabble like cats and dogs?
In this instance, the answer is clearly yes.
He was magnificant in qualifying (again) and, when it came for him to deliver in the race, he did. There was no fuss, a minimum of disquiet and total control all the way through. Even though the race was surprisingly close for so long, we as an audience never felt that he was under pressure. He's Vettel and, this season, he's got (nearly) all the answers.
Quite simply, it's hard to win one F1 race; let alone six. To be so consistent, so measured and make it look so easy is a very special talent. A very special talent.
Honourable mentions this weekend go to Fernando Alonso, the best of the rest behind the Red Bulls, and also to Jaime Alguersuari, who started eighteenth and finished eighth.
Special thanks also go to Johnnie Walker for putting on such a good event at the Charlotte Street Hotel - the venue, the food and the drink helped make the turgid Grand Prix tolerable. Thanks to all concerned.
Comments and Discussion
Boooo, hiss and other associated noises!
But I can totally see why he has to be top dog! *sigh* After some very thrilling races this one was bland beyond belief. But who else could it have been? Nando for making up one position? Jaime for finally scoring points when he should have been already? Neither of those were especially inspirational things in themselves!
Dear everyone involved in organising F1,
Please for the love of all that is holy drop this track from the calendar!
That is all
Thanks
Geeksandlies
Everything Geeksandlies said
what nicko said +1
I seem to remember Vettel going wide at one point. Other drivers, like Hamilton and Button made no mistakes and probably got more out of their car than Vettel, who wasn't pushing. So it seems strange from an objective standpoint to give it to a driver who didn't drive as well as others in the race.
I would be surprised if Hamilton, Button et al didn't make a mistake for the whole race, or in practice or qualifying. And Vettel is pushing. He wasn't driving at 50%, was he? He had to maintain a gap to Webber/Alonso, his in-out laps had to be bloody quick and he did set the fastest lap.
This was a terrible result for the sport - a boring procession with vettel up front
It isn't Vettels fault! Valencia is just such a dull track, we could of course gang up on Adrian Newey for designing that car
Not quite! Hamilton (and i cant believe i am about to write this!) drove too fast, Jenson had a very sloppy start, Alonso ran very wide, Webber ran wide a couple of times as well as i recall!
Lets be honest, if this was Jenson or Lewis we would be setting the internets ablaze with praise! You cant knock Vettel for driving the best car out there (and probably the best car F1 has seen in many years) well, we would be ripping the guy for wasting it!
Or Mateschitz for putting all that money in to the team, Horner for running it so well, the pitcrew for being absolutely spot on during the stops or even Jaguar for running such a bad operation that they ended up selling to Red Bull in the first place
Exactly, i think we are onto something here lol!
I'd blame Jaguar too. Except they're not at fault really.
It's Jackie Stewart who's to blame! Paul Stewart sold the Stewart racing team to their engine-supplier Ford which then rebranded a promising young team as Jaguar and made it a committee-led disaster which after 5 seasons the manufacturer couldn't wait to be rid of.
While one could blame Paul for getting Ford involved in the first place with his team, Jackie Stewart laid the seed that created Paul Stewart and here is where the buck stops.
So everytime Vettel wins, it's JYS's fault.