'Humiliated' Vettel gets an earfull from Italian media

40

The Italian media proved once again that it takes no prisoners when it comes to a Ferrari driver's mistakes or under-performance.

Italy's press has been on Sebastian Vettel's case since last season when the German driver's costly errors put him out of contention for the 2018 world title.

Vettel's mistake in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, when he spun while dicing for second with Lewis Hamilton, coupled with team mate Charles Leclerc's clear superiority, ignited once again the tabloids' fury.

Vettel denies Bahrain spin the result of mounting 'pressure'

The Corriere della Sera called Vettel's blunder and defeat at the hands of Leclerc a proper "humiliation".

Milan's La Gazzetta dello Sport issued an equally scathing report, claiming that Ferrari now had "one certainty and two problems", the certainty being Leclerc while the problems are reliability and… Vettel!

La Repubblica has practically discarded the four-time world champion altogether for 2019, insisting that Leclerc will be Hamilton's only real challenger this season.

Finally, in a silly case of putting the cart before the 'cavallino rampante', Corriere dello Sport's F1 reporter sees Mick Schumacher soon sitting opposite Leclerc in the Ferrari garage as the Scuderia "looks to a future which does not include Vettel".

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.