BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard knows Sebastian Vettel well as a former rival and in his position as a consultant to the German's Red Bull team.
As the youngest champion in Formula 1 history prepares to start the defence of his title in Australia on Sunday, Coulthard analyses the 23-year-old's status in F1.
"Drivers go through various stages in their career. Winning the title will move Vettel out of the first one - when, if you like, you're young and somewhat naive and everything's new and exciting and you're driving on your instincts - into the next one, when you're established and starting to mature.
"Drivers are very young when they come into F1 these days - and Sebastian was no exception; he made his debut at 19. So they have not had the chance to develop fully into adult life before being put under the spotlight of the media and public, and all the adulation that comes with that.
"I remember people saying to me: 'Don't change.' But the reality is you have to change. Your environment changes, you're growing as an individual, you develop tastes.
David Coulthard analyses Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull | ||
 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 90 seconds (UK users only) BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard knows Sebastian Vettel well as a former rival and in his position as a consultant to the German's Red Bull team. As the youngest champion in Formula 1 history prepares to start the defence of his title in Australia on Sunday, Coulthard analyses the 23-year-old's status in F1. WILL WINNING THE TITLE MAKE VETTEL A BETTER DRIVER? "Drivers go through various stages in their career. Winning the title will move Vettel out of the first one - when, if you like, you're young and somewhat naive and everything's new and exciting and you're driving on your instincts - into the next one, when you're established and starting to mature.
"Drivers are very young when they come into F1 these days - and Sebastian was no exception; he made his debut at 19. So they have not had the chance to develop fully into adult life before being put under the spotlight of the media and public, and all the adulation that comes with that. "I remember people saying to me: 'Don't change.' But the reality is you have to change. Your environment changes, you're growing as an individual, you develop tastes. "That's a long-winded way of saying what I've been impressed with about Sebastian is how inwardly calm and confident he is without being arrogant. "If you compare him to Michael Schumacher, Michael was often pigeon-holed as having what appeared to be an arrogant persona. At no time has Seb displayed that in his short time in F1. "Whether that's the way he's wired, the way he's been brought up, we'll find out in time. But I would be surprised if he became a slightly distant and aloof champion. | ||
He has achieved a goal and a milestone in his life and reset the counter and is now going to try to do it again, in the same way as Fernando Alonso has always had the same approach to his racing, whether he was at Minardi, Renault, McLaren or Ferrari.
"Fernando has a steel edge to him - his whole demeanour shouts: 'Don't mess with me, otherwise I'll use all the tools at my disposal to screw you back.' But if you don't poke him, he doesn't come looking for trouble.
"I've always respected his position, even when it was easy to give him a bashing when it was Lewis and him in the same team and it was the Brit and the 'nasty Spaniard'.
"You've got to respect someone's position if they're consistent in what they ask for and how they react. I think that's a quality not a negative and it's one Vettel has, too."
