Sebastian Vettel should not be worried about his 2011 championship running off track.<\/p>\n
That is the view of the Red Bull driver’s rivals as well as pundits and journalists despite a third consecutive defeat for Vettel in Hungary last weekend.<\/p>\n
German newsmagazine Focus observed that while Budapest winner Jenson Button “laughed” on the podium, it was the sullen Vettel who had “scored” by actually pulling out his championship lead to a huge 85 points.<\/p>\n
“It is really beginning to look like it is a case of when, and not if, he will seal his second world title,” former driver Johnny Herbert wrote in his latest column for The National.<\/p>\n
Some pundits believe Vettel needs to worry, however, given that McLaren and also Ferrari look to have caught up with his previously-dominant RB7 car.<\/p>\n
“But,” Herbert insisted, “Vettel’s lead is so vast that just finishing in the top four or five regularly should be enough to see him home.”<\/p>\n
Also pessimistic is Marc Gene, Ferrari’s test driver who writes a column for the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.<\/p>\n
“Our resurgence has been outstanding,” he said, “but unfortunately the championship situation is not changing much.”<\/p>\n
Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport said the remaining races this season will be closely contested by Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, but likened the actual championship battle to a runaway leader in the Giro d’Italia bike race.<\/p>\n
“It’s too late for the championship as the pink jersey is far ahead,” said the sports newspaper.<\/p>\n
“Vettel no longer has a performance advantage but now he can use his head more than his foot, while behind him the protagonists take points off each other.”<\/p>\n
Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore told Onda Cero radio on Monday that the world championship “is over” unless “something tragic happens”.<\/p>\n
Agreed Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, who called the Hungarian grand prix with German Sky television: “That (Vettel’s second place) is how he will become world champion.”<\/p>\n
For instance, Button – then with Brawn GP – won the title in 2009 with a smaller mid-season points advantage, a smaller and less financially-powerful team, and more pressure given that he was charging for his first title.<\/p>\n
“If I had the lead he’s got, I wouldn’t be feeling any pressure at all,” the Briton told The Independent.<\/p>\n
Button headed to Hawaii this week to begin F1’s summer break, and Bild newspaper reports that Vettel is Mallorca-bound.<\/p>\n
“I need a bit of energy from the sun,” the 24-year-old German is quoted by Die Welt.<\/p>\n
Said Italy’s Tuttosport: “Vettel can enjoy his holiday in peace.”<\/p>\n
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