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Belgian Grand Prix
It is difficult to figure out who the three week break that followed the dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix benefitted the most.
Back to back McLaren wins in Hungary and Germany came on the back of Ferrari’s first win of the season at the British Grand Prix, and the dominance that Red Bull had enjoyed in the opening exchanges of the season has disappeared into thin air.
The likes of Ferrari and McLaren have been able to force open a gap in Vettel’s armoury and exploit it to deprive him of race wins – and yet his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship is as big as it has ever been at any point this season.
Somehow Vettel managed to come home in second place behind the charging Jenson Button to open up his gap over team-mate Mark Webber in second place.
Vettel will now have to contend with a second half of the season which bears little resemblance to the first. Talk of the German being unable to cope with pressure seems perhaps premature but he will now be tested in a manner which he really hasn’t had to deal with in 2011.
The Belgian Grand Prix Will be a difficult race for Vettel to walk away with points. The high speed characteristics of the Spa circuit should favour McLaren in particular and will negate Red Bull’s advantage in the high speed corners – something that should also benefit Ferrari – while the same should happen in Monza at the Italian Grand Prix in the following race.
Vettel will have a proper scrap on his hands as he battles for points, and whether the grid can smother him and force him further down the pecking order could go some way to helping reignite the dying spark that is the championship race. Compare odds on the Belgian Grand Prix.
He has so far been able to tick along and accumulate points without having the greatest of races – Hungary is a great example of that – and the fact is that Vettel’s lead at the top is so great that that is all he has to do in order to become the youngest ever double world champion.
McLaren will certainly be hopeful of making a move on Red Bull and at least positioning themselves so they can dent their rival’s confidence ahead of what could be a phenomenal 2012 season – unfortunately it looks as though that is all they have to aim for now.