SEBASTIAN Vettel’s win in Sepang and Tiger’s renewed roar at the top of world golf on winning his 77th career PGA title on Monday are reasons why we love our heroes for their sporting achievements. However, the narrative of their wins and their battles they went through – or are going on right now – sometimes leave us befuddled and bemused. Athletic Adonis one moment, silly sleaze ball (okay, maybe a little naughy schoolboy) the next.
In Formula 1 racing, team orders mean nothing to hard-driving racers with blinkered notions of fair play and whose only desire is to arrive first at the finish line, come hell or high water.
In this sport, victors need to have a mean streak and better still, a killer instinct. Outright disobedience too gets you places. In Vettel’s case, it earned him a win and 25 points for finishing first in the Malaysian Petronas Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday (Mar 24). So what if you have to squirt a cloud of exhaust in your buddy’s face and leave him fuming while you are at it – a fate worse than being caught in a crowded lift with someone affected with poisonous flatulence. Reminds one of a skunk attempting to shake off an unwelcome suitor doesn’t it?
The reigning three-time World Champion might now rue the day he pressed the pedal too far, however much this act of treachery raised his points tally in the championship. In one sly maneuver he lowered the esteem and regard earned ever since he became the youngest driver to win the championship back in 2010. More importantly, his standing in the eyes of his Red Bull Racing teammate, the hapless Mark Webber would have been irreversibly tarnished.
What’s all the fuss about? Here’s the gory rundown. Webber was leading in the closing stages of the race with Vettel five car lengths behind. Third was Lewis Hamilton whose teammate Nico Rosberg was almost snogging his tail, but held his position.
Christian Horner, the team principle told his charges to maintain the race position. In motor racing, nursing one’s engine is all important. The gentler one drives the car, the less the likelihood for any mechanical or electronic breakdown. The drivers run the risk of being shunted and forced into retirement if they push too hard. Being mechanical, the cars run the risk of breaking down as well if not properly nursed during the entire race.
Vettel, for reasons best kept personal, chose to ignore the managerial directive and pushed his car hard to overtake Webber. The Oz, keeping to script was running conservatively at less than full throttle as directed by his boss.
Facing a determined onslaught and noticing his team mate looming large in his mirrors, Webber did what every hot-blooded Aussie wouldn’t - he yielded. Had he chosen to battle it out, who would have looked a right wally if either came a cropper from such a maneuver? Vettel swept past and Webber grudgingly settled for second.
In contrast, it was all sweetness, light and Anglo-German harmony back one grid position behind. Nico Rosberg was running faster than his team mate in front of him, Lewis Hamilton. He told the boss so and requested permission to overtake. “Nein,” said his Ross Brawn, their pit wall boss who explained later that the only reason Hamilton was running slow was because he was directed to do so to ensure both cars came home safely with plenty precious points so early in the season. Being the junior driver to Hamilton – who after all has one Championship (2008) under his belt – Rosberg acceded and stayed dutifully behind the team’s number one driver.
Tellingly, Webber summoned enough of a protest by making a hand gesture when Vettel sped past him. Horner over the radio also muttered about Vettel having some explaining to do once the race was done.
Such was the acrid atmosphere between the two “Bulls” at the podium above the paddock that it would have taxed the Papal powers of even the world’s most famous Jesuit now popularly installed at the Vatican.
But I must hold up my hand and admit to enjoying the spectacle served that Sunday in Sepang. After the thrilling conclusion of the race, any talk of racing estrangement between the F1 owners and the Malaysian hosts should now be shelved to the backburner.
Yes, it was not that long ago that Bernie Ecclestone appeared to be spoiling for a fight with Malaysian GP. The 82-year-old who directs Formula 1 with a silvern tongue and holds order with a velvety gloved iron fist was, at various occasions in the past, on Malaysia’s case. He muttered darkly over a period of recent years that the Sepang circuit as an ageing diva in need of multiple shots of rejuvenating botox.
But if Herr Ecclestone was about ready to shunt the Malaysian GP out of the way and dying for a divorce, then the breathtaking battles on Sunday will surely have resulted in reignition of passion for both parties.
Away from the tracks and on to the golf links, Tiger Woods is regaining sway in the PGA. The exploits of Eldrick, famously found knocking into a stationary fire hydrant after a domestic alteration at some point of his golfing career is back with a loud roar.
I stayed up late enough to catch his incredible birdie putt at the 11th hole in the rain-delayed Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday (Mar 25). Trust Tiger to cue in a bit of drama to give golf the lift it needs. Who cannot remember how the Nike swoosh obediently rolled, slowed and POSED, for the cameras before gently plopping into the cup during one of his major triumphs?
Anyone looking for the secret to this return to form of Tiger needs to look no further than the ski slopes. Woods has found a new flame in Olympic skier Lindsay Vonn who by all accounts, is fanning the fire of this tiger.
Let’s just hope being a sports professional herself, this new blond bombshell in Woods’ life understands the perils and pitfalls her man has to endure, providing a greater degree of domestic bliss apparently missing before this. We certainly want him to treat fire hydrants with a lot more circumspection this time round.
We being sports lemons and couch potatoes, it is in their moments of epic endeavours that we live for. We draw vicarious pleasure through their stirring exploits, making sports such a compelling pastime.
So Vettel, Webber, Woods et all, carry on, scoring! Thank you Lindsay, for tweaking the tiger’s tail and make golf worth watching again.
RAZAK CHIK once drove on the 5.4km Sepang Circuit during a car launch – driving round in a spirited time of 4 minutes 56 seconds. Race winner Vettel’s fastest lap was in the stomach churning 1 minute 30s +!
