British drivers refuse to give up chase despite Vettel’s Schumacher-like dominance
The reigning world champion is adamant he is not unbeatable, but at present there is no-one who can hold a candle to Vettel in his all-conquering Red Bull.
Taking the end of last season into consideration Vettel has scored five successive pole positions and won six of the last eight races.
In making it three out of four this season, Vettel has now opened up a 34-point gap to Hamilton, with Button 47 points adrift, which even at this stage is a considerable cushion.
In addition, in the space of three weeks, Hamilton has gone from race winner to finding himself 40 seconds adrift of Vettel in fourth place in Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix.
Hamilton said: “Thirty-four points is a very big gap at the moment. But what can I do? He’s not really the guy we’re racing. It’s all the other guys — (Mark) Webber, Jenson, Fernando (Alonso), (Felipe) Massa. That’s really where the fight is because it’s too easy. He was cruising in yesterday’s race, for sure, and I’ve got to be on the ragged edge to try and get every little step I can possibly get. It’s very, very similar to when Schumacher was dominating.
“Now Sebastian is dominating — pole position at all four races this season, and he’s nearly won all four.”
With Vettel scoring 93 points from a possible 100, and given the resources available to Red Bull, there is already talk the championship could reach a swift conclusion this year.
“I don’t have a fear that will happen, but it is a reality, it is possible, but it is also possible we could catch up and overtake them,” added Hamilton
In contrast, Button opted not to cast a glance at the standings, and with good reason given he is two race wins behind Vettel in the wake of his sixth-placed finish at Istanbul Park.
“I haven’t seen it (the standings),” said Button.
“That’s not of interest at the moment, it’s about getting the best out of what we have.”
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