Zanardi thinks Vettel's title charge over
Alex Zanardi has joined the Italian media in declaring Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's 2018 championship hopes essentially over.
The former F1 and Indycar driver said that despite the Maranello team having the best car, "everything changed" for Ferrari and Vettel in Singapore.
"It was only one race, but it reflected the state of affairs of this season," Zanardi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"After Monza everyone had the impression that a victory would put things right again. But Lewis (Hamilton) drove everyone into the ground with a perfect, almost poetic performance.
"You could see on Seb's face that the balance of power has changed," he added.
"In pure mathematics, Ferrari can keep believing. But more realistically is that Hamilton is the one who is dominating," said Zanardi.
The Italian press agrees with Zanardi, with La Repubblica saying Singapore was "the end of the championship" for Ferrari.
"Goodbye to the Vettel title," La Gazzetta dello Sport added.
"It's similar to last year, except even more sad now because Ferrari has had the best car. But not the best driver," correspondent Umberto Zapelloni said.
And the editorial in Corriere della Sera read: "Hamilton radiates a calm while Vettel sinks into the most destructive parts of himself."
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Wow! if these comments are reflective of the Italian media and Vettel goes on to lose this years Championship then 2020 may well be the last time Vettel drives in Red. Arrivabene for the chop at the end of the season? and Vettel a year or two later unless he brings home the title. That would be my prediction. It's a tough old game F1 and very cut-throat but if Vettel does go it makes you wonder how much Ferrari would offer Hamilton for his final (possibly) contract or maybe even Verstappen if he keeps driving like his last few races, matures and loses or at least restrains the red mist. Interesting times ahead.
It certainly seems like a major - predictable! - miscalculation by the Ferrari. To the enviable history of the marque's success they added another success - Vettel - and then chose not to support him. Yes, Arrivabene should be shown the door, sooner, rather than later. He speaks rarely, and when he does it's tp badmouth his drivers. Arrivederci signor Arrivabene!
There is a chance for Seb to make up the points as Hamilton might have DNF and does not win most of the remaining races and dont forget Bottas has not won a single race yet so everything has gone in Hamilton's favour so no wonder he is leading but I trust Vettel and Ferrari can do much better in Sochi.
Appreciate that you are a Seb fan but to state that everything has gone in Hamiltons favour because Bottas hasn't won a race all year is perhaps a little disingenuous as I can't remember Sebs team mate troubling the top step this year either. That said, I agree that he could yet do it but he needs to find the form of his life and for his team to improve too.
Just to comment that it has always been title battle between Seb and Lewis and if Bottas had won a few races perhaps there would have been smaller difference in points between Seb and Hamilton.
Bottas played important part towards Hamilton scoring vital points besides Sebs own misfortunes.
Not if Bottas had won the ones that Seb won.
I'm quite sure you believe what you are saying...........but take a little time and think why when using your logic having Raikonen doing the same thing would have a similar influence on Vettel. I appreciate that you have a favourite but being blind to the talent of Hamilton just makes you seemed biased and unsporting. Seb is a really good driver and he's had a car that at least the equal of the Merc all year and for large parts of it a better all around package in the eyes of the pundits yet still he is behind. Alonso wouldn't be behind in that car and the fact that Seb is behind is largely down to the errors he's made compared to Hamilton, who has frankly outdriven him lately.