Briatore: Alonso and Hamilton Outclass Vettel Despite Titles
Flavio Briatore claims Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are stronger drivers than double world champion Sebastian Vettel, arguing the Red Bull star’s success owes much to his car.
Sebastian Vettel may have secured his second consecutive Formula One world championship, but former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has dismissed the idea that the Red Bull driver is the best on the grid. Speaking in October 2011, Briatore argued that Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are both stronger drivers than the 24-year-old German, attributing Vettel’s success largely to the performance of his car rather than his individual talent.
Briatore, who managed Alonso during his championship-winning years at Renault, told Italy’s Corriere dello Sport that Vettel is “definitely good”, but not the top driver in Formula One. According to Briatore, the Red Bull’s technical superiority has played a decisive role in Vettel’s run of victories. He suggested that, in a scenario where every driver competed in identical cars, Vettel would not match Alonso or Hamilton over a race distance.
Briatore’s driver ranking
Briatore’s assessment placed Vettel as the fastest over a single qualifying lap, but behind both Hamilton and Alonso in race conditions. He said he would expect Vettel to take pole position, with Hamilton second and Alonso third, but maintained that over a Grand Prix distance, Alonso and Hamilton’s racecraft, adaptability and consistency would put them ahead. At the time, Alonso was driving for Ferrari and Hamilton for McLaren.
Vettel’s 2011 campaign with Red Bull had been marked by dominant qualifying performances and a string of race wins, clinching the title with four races to spare. His consistency and the RB7’s reliability gave him a clear edge over rivals. Yet Briatore’s comments reflect a view shared by some in the paddock that the car’s advantage was decisive, and that proven champions like Alonso and Hamilton would have delivered similar or better results in the same equipment.
Debate over driver versus car
The debate over whether Vettel’s success was down to his driving or the Red Bull’s technical package was a recurring theme in the 2011 season. While Vettel’s qualifying speed was rarely challenged, race incidents and the relative lack of wheel-to-wheel battles compared to Hamilton and Alonso led some to question whether he had been truly tested under pressure. Both Alonso and Hamilton had demonstrated their ability to fight through the field and win in less dominant machinery.
- Vettel: Two consecutive world titles with Red Bull by 2011
- Alonso: Two-time champion with Renault, then at Ferrari
- Hamilton: 2008 champion with McLaren, known for aggressive racecraft
Briatore’s comments added fuel to ongoing comparisons between the three drivers, with the Italian’s view reflecting his longstanding support for Alonso and his belief in Hamilton’s natural speed. The discussion over the relative merits of car and driver would continue through Vettel’s career, especially as he moved to Ferrari in later years and faced new challenges.
