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The findings of the Formula 1 winter tests last February and March raise suspicions: Mercedes-Benz remains the best in class, and Red Bull Racing-Honda is on par with Ferrari. That would mean: it will probably be nothing in 2020 with Sebastian Vettel’s world drivers’ championship with Ferrari, so Heppenheimer would have missed his big goal of becoming world champion in red as his role model Michael Schumacher.
Amazing: out of 109 Ferrari factory drivers, only 9 Formula 1 drivers in red overalls became world champions! These are Alberto Ascari (1952 and 1953), Juan Manuel Fangio (1956), Mike Hawthorn (1958), Phil Hill (1961), John Surtees (1964), Niki Lauda (1975 and 1977), Jody Scheckter (1979), Michael Schumacher (2000 to 2004) and Kimi Raikkonen (2007).
Formula 1 will be 70 years old this year. If we divide racing history into two sections, until the mid-1980s and from 1985 to the present, only Schumi and “Iceman” even won the title in the second half.
No one can accuse Sebastian Vettel of not doing enough to become world champion with Ferrari. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. Because if we look at who missed everything at Ferrari for the title, then Vettel is in an extremely prominent company.
Fernando Alonso arrived at Ferrari as twice world champion with Renault (2005 and 2006). But the Asturian did not exceed the final three second places in 2010, 2012 and 2013: Sebastian Vettel of all people, who later became his successor in Maranello, stood in front of the sun. At the time, Seb was serving Red Bull Racing and won four titles in a row (2010 to 2013).
Alain Prost docked with three McLaren World Cup titles in 1985, 1986 and 1989 at Ferrari, but he was never happy at Maranello. In 1990, the Frenchman also finished second in the World Cup. In late 1991, he compared his red race car to a truck and was fired for this blasphemy.
Another second world championship with Ferrari: Michael Schumacher (1998 and 2006), Felipe Massa (2008), Rubens Barrichello (2002 and 2004), Sebastian Vettel (2017 and 2018), Clay Regazzoni (1974), Eddie Irvine (1999), Michele Alboreto (1985), Niki Lauda (1976), Jacky Ickx (1970), Giuseppe Farina (1952) and Alberto Ascari (1951).
Thanks to Enzo Ferrari, Ferrari has not only become one of the most famous car brands in the world, but Ferrari has shaped Formula 1. The Italians have almost all the important records in the sport of the Grand Prix, no team in the world has so many followers. Ferrari is not just a sports car company, Ferrari is a myth, and that was one of the reasons Sebastian Vettel wanted to drive for the Italians.
Vettel is an avowed fan of history, widely read in racing history. “Ferrari is a legend and I feel privileged to be able to drive for this racing team,” said Vettel after signing for the Italians. “I will never forget the moment I entered the factory for the rest of my life.”
