Why vettel dominance is no turn off

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Hamilton title hopes blow after penalty. But the German Red Bull driver successfully defended his title with three races to spare in October, and Ecclestone is concerned interest could be affected if that happens again. The only person that would say no to that would be Sebastian, but I think everybody else would agree with it. I am surprised we survived with the TV ratings we got right at the end. I often wonder whether people watch because of the championship or watch because of the particular race.

Last season, the year-old Vettel finished points ahead of second-placed Jenson Button of McLaren, the champion. The Red Bull driver has mustered just 16 points since the British Grand Prix in July and the team's constructors' championship chances have taken a hit.

Yet the Mexican remains optimistic that he has all the tools he needs to turn his performances around. But he came into the weekend with a streak of recent crashes hanging over him. The technical directive issued by Formula 1 to reduce levels of automation in pitstops has given teams an unwelcome period of adjustment. Although safety was the primary goal, it has already had a significant impact on the title race and puts extra pressure on teams to deliver as the season reaches the business end.

Some 18 drivers have finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton on his way to wins. The Russian GP was decided by late-arriving rain that allowed some to climb and caused others to plummet. But the events which played out beforehand are equally significant when considering the all-important driver ratings.

Until rain turned the Russian Grand Prix on its head in the closing stages, Lando Norris was set to convert his first Formula 1 pole position into a maiden win. But having recovered well from being shuffled back at the start, Hamilton and his Mercedes team called the changing conditions spot-on for a landmark th F1 victory.

At the Italian Grand Prix Daniel Ricciardo turned around a troubled F1 season and, in F2, Oscar Piastri demonstrated once again that he is a potential star of the future.

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