Team England's Left Flank Conundrum..

Well, it’s been too long since England won the FIFA World Cup. I wanted to write the phrase “last won” but refrained from doing so considering the fact that the Three Lions have just one title to their name. And that too in 1966 in their own backyard, which can’t help but exude the sad truth that it might actually take another hosting to win the prestigious trophy. And with 2018 and 2022 going to Russia and Qatar respectively, this indeed is a sign of grave concern.

Let’s take a minute and analyze the problem that we have on hand. It’s not that England lack quality players. Oh No. They have players who can challenge even the best on any given day. They have players who play in the supposedly the “greatest league in the world”. They have players who have the unsung ability to go face-to-face with any challenge that is thrown their way. They have players who shake the world. Too much “biased” praise you say? I guess you’re right.

But talking in an earnest frame of mind the problem is not with the players. The players actually put in their best. The fact that they’re not challenging enough to face a fortified team like Spain, Germany, Italy or even Uruguay for that matter is a completely different problem all together. The problem is that the English team does not have players to match the positions on the field. To put the predicament more subtly – England’s left flank is completely handicapped.

 Looking at the situation objectively one can easily make out that it’s a classic case of flooding too many players on one flank and thereby leaving the other flank completely desolate. In the present day scenario, England has Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend, Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and Man United’s Wilfried Zaha at their disposal to fill in the right flank. However when it comes to filling in the left flank, the team’s choices are pretty scarce. Options include Adam Lallana (Lone Ranger), Ashley Young (No Form) & Stewart Downing (No Impact).

We have 6 very talented players who are fighting for one position on the field. And on the other hand there aren’t enough players to even support the left side, let alone stabilizing it. Southampton’s Adam Lallana has been the greatest thing to have happened to English midfield ever since Joe Cole. But let’s get one thing straight shall we? Lallana cannot win things on his own. He needs backup. And on that front all he has is Young and Downing – neither of whom is in any form.

The permutations and combinations to fill that “elusive” void on the left-hand side have been going on for ages now. But all sincere efforts have gone in vain.  There are two things common between Kevin Keegan, Sven Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello, Steve McClaren and present England coach Roy Hodgson – first is the exasperating detail that they have all poured their heart out in trying to build/develop a player for that left flank; second that they have all terribly failed.

Now I’m no expert when it comes to team formation or chemistry, but when coaches go to the extreme extent of playing world class midfielders like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard on the left just for the sole purposes of filling that void, then something is appallingly wrong with the team. Also, call me a cynic but I draw the line between intelligent insight and immense idiocracy when dynamic strikers like Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen are “pushed” to the wings.

And probably the greatest impalement in England football history occurred when Paul Scholes, who without a shadow of a doubt was the greatest midfielder of his time, was literally pressed on towards the left touchline to incorporate the enterprising Gerrard-Lampard combination during UEFA Euro 2004. None the less England was knocked out of the tournament. And quite frankly that seems to be the story every time that England plays a match. As a football fanatic, I’m literally on the edge of my seat grasping my sweaty palms with chewed up fingernails just hoping that the opposition does not see the exposed left hand flank.

But unfortunately they always do. Be it a minnow team like Chile or a prodigious team like Germany, every team always exploits the fact that England is completely “Shite” on the left flank. Therefore, in addition to a dedicated left winger, what’s indispensable for the Three Lions at this point of time is to find a coach who can create a left winger out of the existing lot, if not find a new one. On that note, a certain example of a Joe Cole and a Jose Mourinho comes to mind.

What Mourinho will undeniably go down in history among the England fans for, besides being a ruthless character who likes to win at any cost by creating stupendous strategies, is that he created Joe Cole out of nothing and made him indispensable for the England football team. Cole was the greatest thing to be running on the left flank ever since the days of Steve McManaman. If only Cole had not been injury-prone, he could have been an undying star.

No one can forget the immaculate volley that Cole hit from 35-yards against Sweden in the group stages during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. England fans especially cannot forget that match for two reasons. One was the desirable and prudent fact that their answers had finally been answered on the left flank front. Finally there was a perfect blend between a player and a position. The other was the horrifying injury that Owen suffered that would eventually end his career.

All in all, it’s high time that a change be implemented. It’s high time that ambidextrous players like Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck, Townsend and maybe even Jack Wilshere be exploited more in order to expand their horizons for the future. Maybe a new coach with better strategies and a face that is not always “yawning” needs to be at the helm of things. The 2014 FIFA World Cup is just months away; But at this stage, with England being in the group of death along with Italy and Uruguay, the only discomfiting thing that fans can be disturbingly certain about is that England is going to return home sooner than expected.

The King is Back..

Apart from the fact that Stan ‘the man’ Wawrinka won his maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open this year, if there was one thing that any person who is even remotely connected to the sport of Tennis had to vouch for at this point of time - that thing would be the definite fact that people at Melbourne Park got to witness something really special at the hands of Roger Federer.

In addition to him showing shades of his vintage self that personified someone who dictated terms on the court, he also portrayed a side of his playing capabilities that everyone on the tennis fraternity thought was lost. The class act manner in which the 17-time Grand Slam champion manufactured points with majestic brilliance proved without a shadow of a doubt that the 32-year old still has what it takes to win a Grand Slam.

Federer indeed can bounce back after his Australian Open show. He has a new racquet, a new coach and best of all a new attitude towards handling the game he considers to be most close to his heart. He’s enjoying the game more now, he has a disciplined regime and as always his spirit is an epitome of ‘never-say-die’.  Somewhere down the line everyone, even Federer, wanted that person to return. And that’s what happened at the Australian Open.

The ease with which Federer overcame the challenges thrown by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray was nothing short of breathtaking. Whether it was his insane slices, his genius fake shots or his ridiculous inventions that left his fans spellbound and gasping for more, Roger Federer was able to pierce millions of hearts with his stupendous serves and his mesmerizing game-play.

Federer may have lost the battle when he bowed out against Rafael Nadal in the semis, but one thing that can be said with utmost certainty is that the Swiss Maestro is ready to win the war in the long run. Because Fedex in the true sense is and will always be an embodiment of grace, the king of tennis and the incarnation of a living legend. 

Is Moyes Fergie's 'chosen one' to shatter Old Trafford records?

With Swansea City's recent 2-1 FA Cup victory over the defending English Premier League champions Manchester United, Red Devils manager David Moyes has managed to shatter yet another record at the prestigious Old Trafford stadium.

To read more check out my article in The Times of India..

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/epl/top-stories/Is-Moyes-Fergies-chosen-one-to-shatter-Old-Trafford-records/articleshow/28516625.cms

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92 Forever: The Classiest ‘Class’ of them all..

This is going to be one of those “rarest of the rare” categories of blogs that I’ve ever written. And it’s because of the simple reason that probably for the first time in the history of the sport a die-hard, hardcore Liverpool fan is going to be praising the ideology and dogma of a club called Manchester United. I guess this is something that every football freak on this planet, irrespective of the club that he/she follows, would do unconditionally if they’ve had the phenomenal privilege to watch a group of immensely talented boys set sail on their amazing journey to battle it out with the world to attain the well-deserved glory that they achieved.

David “Becks” Beckham, Paul “Scholesy” Scholes, Ryan “Giggsy” Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicholas “Nicky” Butt. Anyone talking/writing about these fine individuals would agree with me when I say that the “Class of 92” is and perhaps will always be legendary. Not because of the reason that these footballers emitted jugs of talent that was immeasurable, but solely because of the reason that never before and never till now has a class graduated that has produced multiple gifted players all at one go. It must be noted that though these players were “6” in number, their dream was just “one” – to enjoy the game and inspire a generation.

And inspire they did. In an era when British culture ruled and people were more into music and fashion than football, Manchester United was busy producing within its academy a set of gifted individuals who were lucky enough to play with each other and most of all respected the game more than anything in the world. There was one reason that made them click the way they did, that made them closer than brothers, that completely eliminated an impetuous felling called “jealousy” between them and that made them realize they needed to have each other’s backs – Football. It was that important to them. It was their grounds of motivation.

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Under the unparalleled guidance of recently retired manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the Class of 92 went on to star for the Manchester United first team during a period of unprecedented success for the northern England powerhouse. And that came as early as the 1995 season when they were “thrown” onto the field together to represent the Red Devils in all of Europe’s elite competitions. Now call it “luck”, Sir Alex’s “insight” or just sheer brilliance that the Class of 92 possessed, but it worked. Everyone from people to experienced football pundits criticized them; however, Becks, Scholsey, Giggsy, Gary, Phil and Nicky had other plans in mind.

Playing for the biggest club in the world, which at that time none of them knew, and going on a trophy binge to become one of the world's most recognized sporting  brands in history says a lot about the extraordinary character that the “Fergie's Fledglings” exuberated. That’s right. After “Busby Babes” came the era of the Fergie's Fledglings - a group of players recruited and trained by Sir Alex who went on to play for the first team and embellish their names in the history books. Not only did these players gel perfectly with each other, but it was the manner in which they did it that made them what they are today and achieve what they achieved.

Now let’s see. Gary Neville played at right back. Phil Neville played at left back. David Beckham played on the right flank. Ryan Giggs took the left flank. The midfield was completely dominated by Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. That’s more than half the team that was brought in at the same time. And that too was total inexperience that was catapulted on the pitch. I guess keeping myself in the feet of the United fans at that time, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the whole football fraternity must have thought that the Red Devils were taking an uncalled-for risk at the time. I mean who the hell were these six blokes anyway?

I’m no expert on this, but when six out eleven players walk out to the centre of the field with the whole world thinking that it is all just a big mistake it’s kind of hard to get your game on. It’s definitely the greatest challenge that is thrown your way, especially when the positions in question here are the flanks and central midfield. The central midfield is supposed to be the “heart” of a team and the flanks its “wings”. So one can imagine the predicament a team and its manager would be in if the brand new heart and fervent wings fail to function. But that’s what the Class of 92 was ready for. Bring it on they said as their brilliant aura was inconceivable.

It was that dominating presence on field that the Red Devils had that made them the most feared team in the 1990s. People give credit to Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, who rightly and respectfully deserve all the credit. But I guess I say this for all when I say that it was the unsurpassable versatility that Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt and the Neville brothers had that made all the difference. To do a 1-2 between the rightmost extremity and the leftmost extremity on the field is a wondrous task and the Class of 92 did that with ridiculous ease. Not just in one game against one opponent. But in every game, irrespective the enemy.

The debate will last forever on this topic. Some say that the Class of 1992 is overrated. It’s their opinion and they are quite rightly entitled to it. I mean if a young bunch of passionate and dedicated playmakers help a team win 6 English Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 1 UEFA Champions League title during their tenure (one of those seasons had a prestigious treble there as well by the way) and still be called “overrated”, then there’s nothing on this planet that a footballer can do to be truly, rightfully and undoubtedly be called a Football Legend. The Class of 92 did that and they will forever be the “Classiest” of them all.

'Hitman' Cristiano Ronaldo silences his critics..

There can be numerous superlatives used to define the genius and the remarkable exploits of a man called Cristiano Ronaldo. But what can be said? Watching him exhibit his phenomenal talent in destroying oppositions night after night just encapsulates the mind and heart of the footballing fraternity, nay the sporting fraternity.  It’s plain and simple. You want goals? Dial CR7.

And it’s not just goals against small teams or weaker defences. You name the time and the place and Ronaldo will be there ensuring that he is without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest, if not the greatest, footballers on the planet today. Life is simple for Cristiano Ronaldo. He lives by his ever-lasting policy that there’s no problem in being arrogant as long as you can pull it off with your superb talent.

The FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Sweden was being termed as probably one of the great classics weeks in advance. It was hyped for the unfeigned reason that it will pitch two “gladiators” (Zlatan Ibrahimovic & Cristiano Ronaldo) against each other. Only one team was supposed to make through to the World Cup. It was “Ibra vs. CR7”. The pre-match analytics wrote itself. No one needed to build up the scintillating contest that was on the cards. All that people could do was to wait for the night.

It has often been the case that “big names” always either choke under pressure or fail to perform at the international arena when a match is as hyped as the Sweden-Portugal clash was. But, not for Ronaldo. He single-handedly took upon himself the duty for which his country had sent the whole team out there. He single-handedly carried the unabridged hopes of an entire nation when he walked out to the center of the field. And he single-handedly made FIFA president Sepp Blatter choke on his words.

No other player would have had the audacity to stand up to a phenomenon called “Zlatan” on a cold wintry night in a stadium known as “Zlatan Arena” in Sweden. But that’s what Ronaldo did. He chose that night to make believers out of non-believers. He chose that night to proclaim that he’s the best ever when it comes to getting the job done in crunch situations. And he chose that night to show to the world that if one gets the great Zlatan Ibrahimovic to applaud their game in his own backyard, then one can be assured of having achieved something really special and magical. No arguments there!!

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A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick overshadowed a Zlatan Ibrahimovic brace to power Portugal to the FIFA World Cup Finals in less than a year’s time. And quite frankly, it is really great for the sport that a person of Ronaldo’s mind-boggling aura and prodigious ability is going to be in Brazil. Don’t get me wrong. It’s really sad that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would not be there. If it was in my hands, I would take both. The sport needs to be represented with great talent. But Ronaldo was just that damn good on a night when he showed that his versatility on the pitch to change flanks within minutes is nothing short of breathtaking.

One would think that finishing second twice in a row to Lionel Messi for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or would play a toll on the Real Madrid playmaker’s mind. Especially after hearing comments like “Ronaldo is the luckiest guy in the world as he always has a front row seat to watch Messi win all the awards.” But he’s been living up to the expectations night after night without fail. He’s been proving himself to people worldwide that he indeed has what it takes to go down in history as one the greatest “legends” to have ever graced the beautiful game. 

Ronaldo’s scored 225 goals in 216 appearances for Real Madrid and to top it all off he's scored 66 goals already in 2013. The closest that anyone or any team is to that extraordinary number is “Liverpool” with 61 goals. He’s undoubtedly the number 1 choice for the Ballon D'Or. And if his stats are not enough to substantiate his claim, there’s another reason. He’s Cristiano Ronaldo… He Comes… He Scores… He Conquers… End of Story!!

The Day I Felt the Force..

It was just another “regular” Monday. For the rest of the world the day was a distressing reminder that the week had just begun. It was another disconcerting aide-memoire that the weekend had just finished, Monday had come and Friday was an eternity away. 

Of course, I wasn’t feeling the blues because let’s face it my job has no blues. There are days when I just long to get out of bed and head straight to work. There are days when I want to stay back in office and work another 12 hours. And considering the recent events that happened to me, there are days when I want to be in office 24/7/365. (I know.. Get a ‘life’ Mori.. Right?)

So anyways, coming back to Monday. We (my two colleagues and I) were sitting in office doing the unvarying routine and a part of me for some reason was feeling a little perturbed. Don’t know why, but I wanted to go home. I wanted to be home as soon as possible. In fact, earlier that day I was contemplating not coming to office at all. I almost called in sick. But somehow something got me going and I came to office. I now know that had I missed office that day, I would have never ever forgiven myself. Regret and depression would have ruled my mind forever.

The time was a little over 17:00hrs. It was time for our daily trip to the Cafeteria for coffee and snacks when suddenly a Sania Mirza story forced us to stay back a little longer. Not a problem. That’s what the job description is. But suddenly one of my colleagues came bursting through the door saying that “someone” had come outside. 

I opened the door and checked outside. And, almost immediately, multiple things started happening to me. I wanted to scream, but I was completely out of breath. I wanted to run out, but my legs started to shiver for God knows what reason. I wanted to keep staring, but I’m pretty sure that I went partially blind for 10 minutes. Because right outside were the Formula 1 team Sahara Force India’s drivers Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta.

I know that I’m a journalist now and all these things are supposed to be “routine” for me. But come on man, Sutil and Di Resta were standing right outside the door. It was one of those magical moments that you want to relive over and over again. I’ve been an avid follower of Formula 1 for quite some time now. I’ve been to the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.  And this was indeed a breathtaking moment. I wanted to talk to them, wanted to know how they think, wanted to get their views on India, wanted to know what they felt about Sebastian Vettel, etc etc etc. My questions would have been endless. I would have talked the night away with them. But I knew that such a thing was not possible. I was not there yet.

So my senior colleague and I walk out the door and all I can see is Paul Di Resta’s face. Adrian Sutil and his girlfriend, who I now know is Jenifer Becks, were busy clicking photos with the other journalists. Suddenly, I had this gush of adrenalin just pumped into me from heavens above. I went straight up to Paul, who was talking to a sports journalist I guess, and interrupted their conversation. I said: “Hi Paul, Big Fan”.. He replied: “Thanks Mate” and we shook hands. I almost sank in right there on the floor. That moment was legendary. I had just interacted with my first ever Sports Personality. Di Resta, even though has not been successful in F1 to that extent, is however credited with beating Vettel for the Formula 3 title.

That was it I felt. I thought at that instant that the magic was dead after just 5 seconds. We walked to the elevators and were looking to head down to the Cafe and I was all down in the dumps full of gloom and melancholy. Suddenly, Sutil, Becks, Di Resta and a fourth person walked out the hallway and made their way to the elevators. I knew that this was God’s way of telling me that “Dude, grow up and go freaking click a photograph with those F1 legends.” I went up to Adrian and said: “Hi Adrian.. Big Fan.. All the Best for Indian GP..” He replied: “Oh Thank You.. I’ll need it..” We shook hands and I asked him: “Can I get a picture with you?” He said: “Sure Mate”..

In full excitement I handed my 12.1 megapixel camera phone to my senior colleague, who thank heavens used his Xolo phone to click the photo instead. Otherwise who knows how long I would have had to stand there looking like a fool just waiting for the Bullshit camera on Sony Xperia S to focus me with Sutil.

So there we were. Adrian Sutil and I. Standing together to be clicked. A moment that will be talked about in my family for generations. (At least I’ll never let this moment grow old). My Son is one day going to hear the epic tale of how his father took a photograph with an F1 driver. While we were standing there, I specifically remember that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my hands. I first folded them, then I took them behind and till the time that I tried a third position, my legs started to shiver. Finally I saw the flash click that ended me of my misery. I thanked Adrian once again and wished him luck.

Standing just behind him was Di Resta. I asked him for a photograph as well. He said: “Sure Mate”. This time I was much used to the pressure of standing with a celebrity. Click. It happened in no time. I would like to thank my senior colleague and his Xolo phone for all the support rendered. History was made. The photos are going to be framed and be hung on top of my bed. No matter what anyone says, no matter how bad I look in those photographs, I will always cherish those epic reminders of the legendary moment I shared with Sahara Force India.

It’s really strange how things work out, isn’t it? With the events that transpired on October 21, 2013, I’m now a firm believer in Destiny. Whatever has to happen, will definitely happen. No one can stop the inevitable. If it’s written, then no force on earth of heaven can stop it from occurring. I almost didn’t go to office that day but in the end I did and it turned out to be one of the most proud moments of my life. It instilled upon me that positive energy that I’m not wasting my life. It inspired me to such extents that I’ll never give up on that “hunger” to grow and be happy. Life is waiting for me to enjoy it. And that’s what I’m gonna do now.

It was a day that changed me.. It was a day when I “felt the force”..

Is Sebastian Vettel really the greatest ever?

Let's be honest, shall we? As much as I hate to admit it, I know that I have to come to the disconcerting “fact” that Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel might actually be the greatest Formula One driver of all time. I’ve come to this “enlightenment” because of the recent events that have taken place in the racing scenario.

Of the last six races, Vettel has won five with four of them being on the trot. A win in the next race (Japanese Grand Prix) would actually just roll the carpet for the German to be crowned the youngest ever quadruple world champion when the Indian Grand Prix takes place on October 27th. And how ironical it would be if India is “chosen” as the country where Vettel achieves this “dreaded” achievement.

For those of you who’re confused right now as to what blasphemous connection I’m trying to make between India and Vettel, don’t worry. I’ll explain. Remember a driver called Narain Karthikeyan? The person who was called the ‘fastest Indian in the world’? Well, believe it or not he actually got the opportunity to drive in Formula One for 3 years. Shocked? Don’t be. That’s what the world thinks you know. The world thinks that Indians aren’t capable of doing anything else except feeding cows and spreading corruption.

Being a little cynical, am I? Well not exactly. I’m pretty sure that Sebastian Vettel thought (and thinks) the same way about Indians as well. There was this incident involving him and Karthikeyan that was the onset of my hatred towards Vettel. Vettel called Karthikeyan an “idiot” and flicked him off on Live TV in front of the whole world just because the “Indian” did not let him pass through on a blue flag.

It was totally uncalled for. Vettel fans called it his “immaturity”. Others called the incident “heat of the moment”. Whatever! It really incepted this bad emotion within me regarding Vettel. So, that is why it would be really ironical if India gets to be the country where Vettel is crowned world champion for the fourth consecutive year.

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Anyway, coming back to the trepidatory fact that Vettel might actually be the greatest F1 driver in history, let’s look at a few specifics. Sebastian Vettel, the child prodigy as some called him when he was making his name in the Formula 3 World Series, has probably broken all the “young” records that there are to be broken.

He was the youngest driver to have taken part in an official practice session, the youngest to have scored championship points, the youngest to lead a race, the youngest to secure pole position, the youngest driver to set the fastest lap time during a race, the youngest to get a podium position, and of course the youngest to have won a race. And if that was not all, he’s the youngest single world champion. Scratch That. He’s the youngest double world champion. Oh Damn! Scratch that as well. He’s the youngest triple world champion in the history of the sport.

Those kinds of facts are really hard to argue and mess with. I mean come on. The man has broken almost every possible record there is in the books. And if he has not, then he definitely has his sights set on them. It is this intent to win at any cost by compromising one’s ethics and ideologies that makes Vettel who he is.

We all know the ignominy that happened between Vettel and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year. Which is why some freaks like me might hate Vettel’s guts, but that does not change the ugly truth – Sebastian Vettel gets the “W” when it matters the most.

Of the 115 race entries that Sebastian Vettel has in his career, he has won 34 races that takes his win percentage to 29.56%. When compared to the legendary Michael Schumacher’s 308 entries to 91 wins data, Vettel pips the German marvel because Schumi’s win percentage came to 29.55%. On the other hand, in the total poles won category, of 115 entries Vettel has 42 pole positions as compared to Schumi’s 308-68 data. That takes Vettel’s success percentage to 36.52% as compared to Schumi’s 22.08%.

However, there is a reason why Michael Schumacher is probably the only “legend” that Formula One will ever see. One of those is the stupendous record that Schumi holds where he has the most consecutive wins from the first race of a season. Schumi won the first 5 races of a new season in 2004 when he won from the Australian Grand Prix till the Spanish Grand Prix.

Schumi also comprehensively holds the astounding record of the most wins at the same Grand Prix. He has 8 wins at the French Grand Prix, 7 at the Canadian Grand Prix and the San Marino Grand Prix, and 6 at almost every other Grand Prix there is in the world. Hard to fight with those kind of records right?

But there was something that happened at the recently concluded Singapore Grand Prix that really blew my mind away. Something, which when looked into in detail, really brought forward the veracity of how talented and dominating Sebastian Vettel really is. Not only did the Red Bull driver win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, he did with a tinge of superiority - the magnitude of which was staggering.

Vettel led from start to end and the manner in which he kept gaining speed and increasing the gap between him and the “second best” was indeed breathtaking and was definitely something that even the great Schumacher never did. Vettel was 1.9 seconds clear after the first lap, 4.2 seconds clear after the second lap and by the time he reached lap 43 he was 30.6 seconds clear off the closest compatriot behind him.

Vettel won the Singapore Grand Prix by over 32 seconds. Believe me, 32 seconds is like an eternity in Formula One. Not only is such a dictating performance highly uncommon; but considering the fact that it was done right after the safety car was withdrawn, on a circuit that has not been incident free since its inauguration, is truly commendable.

Vettel, at present, has 3 Formula One driver’s world championships to his name. It can, and probably will, be 4 by the end of this season. Schumi has 7 in total. Vettel is 26 years old right now and can easily get 3 more till the time he is 30. Not only that, Schumi has the record for the most consecutive Formula One driver’s world championship titles at 5. So, with the kind of predominating form that Vettel is in right now, the German has a very good possibility to break that record as well when he races next year and the year after that.

Vettel’s achievements speak for themselves. I’m no one to question his capability. His caliber and aura speak volumes when it comes to fighting his case of earning respect. He has the talent, he has the skill, and “best” of all he has the technology in Red Bull to help him achieve his dream of becoming the greatest of all time. The only question that remains though is…

Does he already think that he is?