Sebastian Vettel has proven there's life after Michael Schumacher for Germany, that's according to Brazil's legendary Emerson Fittipaldi, the former double Formula One world champion of 1972 and 1974.
The one-time record holder for youngest Formula One world champion said of his latest successor, Vettel, who at 23 years and 133 days now leads the youth stakes for world championships — four slots above the Brazilian still ranked fourth youngest — "For Germans this was a historical win. It's only their second ever world champion."
There was an air of bias however, given that Fittipaldi was speaking in the German capital to Gulf News on the sidelines of a three-day Laureus Academy Forum, held in Berlin.
Laureus, the awards ceremony, which comes to Abu Dhabi once more on February 7, 2011, has a range of elite sports personalities to turn to for advice on voting over who deserves sporting honours.
Dismal year
With Fittipaldi the resident Formula One expert on the academy it seems Vettel could well be lobbied by the Brazilian great for best newcomer award next year in the same city where Vettel first clenched his world title last week.
In what's been a dismal comeback year for seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, Fittipaldi suggests the blemish has been thoroughly overshadowed thanks to Vettel.
"He's [Vettel] showed there's talent, a new generation of new drivers in Germany after Schumacher."
Fittipaldi drew contrasts to the Brazilian domination of the sport when not only himself but also Nelson Piquet and Aryton Senna entered the fray at the same time in the 1970s and 80s with a devastating affect on the leaderboards.
"Except now there's seven Germans going to be competing in Formula One next year; Schumacher, Vettel, Timo Glock, Nick Heidfeld, Adrian Sutil, Nico Hulkenburg, Nico Rosberg," said Fittipaldi with a start.
Far from suggesting Vettel could dominate the sport from now on alone in a manner similar to Schumacher, Fittipaldi said it could well be a shared monopoly from the golden generation of German newcomers.
"I think it's long way in motor racing, it's a very complex sport. Driver, team and car all have to come together as one. A championship year is always special. It will be difficult to put that all together again for Vettel next year," said Fittipaldi.
Six-way splilt
The 63-year-old racer added, "This year was so exciting, half way Fernando Alonso came back from nowhere and almost won it — but Vettel showed a lot of determination and focus in those last two races to win it, I can see he loves the sport with a passion."
The Brazilian added: "It's a six-way thing next year — the two Ferrari's, McLaren's and Red Bull. There will be tough competition its not easy but maybe Red Bull could still dominate with a good chance of Vettel becoming double champion again.
