It’s mission impossible for Vettel
SUZUKA — Even Mission: Impossible Star Tom Cruise would baulk at the task facing ferrari’s sebastian vettel after sunday’s japanese grand prix.
the german’s hopes of winning a fifth formula one title this season moved away from slim and closer to non-existent at suzuka.
lewis hamilton’s pole-to-flag victory, the briton’s sixth win in seven races and ninth of the season, delivered another hammer blow to a rival whose challenge has swiftly self-destructed. vettel is now 67 points behind his mercedes rival with four races — worth a maximum 100 points — to go. the battle between the two four-times champions looks effectively over, even if there is still fighting talk from maranello.
“i know that the situation looks impossible,” ferrari team boss maurizio arrivabene said on sunday. “but our job sometimes is to challenge the impossible.
“this is what we are going to do and we try to do for the future four races.” in fact, it could all be over in two weeks’ time at the us grand prix in austin, where a win with vettel finishing lower than second is all hamilton needs to seal the deal with three races to spare.
“you say nearly (done), so obviously there is still a chance,” said vettel, cutting a resigned figure as he spoke to reporters.
“at the last couple of races we made it a bit too easy for them but also credit to them as they executed well, which is the name of the game.
“we need to look after ourselves and do our bit the next couple of races and then we see.”
ferrari’s campaign has unravelled spectacularly as the season has worn on, with what appeared set to be a titanic battle of two fourtime champions instead turning into a one-horse race.
mistakes from both vettel and the italian team, as well as strategy blunders such as a failed tyre gamble in qualifying at suzuka, have cost them dear.
they no longer have the fastest car, with mercedes locking out the front row and finishing in one-two formation in the last two races.
hamilton is also in the form of his life and has to be favourite for victory again in austin. —