Vettel not as 'vain' as Alonso, respects rivals' talent

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Sebastian Vettel says that unlike Fernando Alonso he would never proclaim himself to be "the best", insisting it would be "ignorant" for him to dismiss his rivals' talent.

Alonso returns to the F1 grid this weekend with Alpine after a two-year absence. The two-time world champion is rightly considered as one of the sport's greatest talents, and the Spaniard would hardly disagree.

In an interview this week with the BBC, Alonso was asked if he was still as good as his distinguished colleagues at the head of the grid, to which the 39-year-old confidently replied, "No, I'm better".

©AstonMartin

Queried on Alonso's bold claim, Vettel said he would perhaps portray himself as being among the best, but certainly not as "the best".

"It does not sound right to me to sit here and say I’m the best, but if others choose to do so that is okay with me," he told iNews. "I have no problem with that.

"But it would be ignorant to neglect or forget the amount of talent that is out there and what other people can do as well, how hard they work, and sometimes, even if I don’t like it, beat me when they are better. Then it’s about how you react."

Read also: Alonso says 'I'm better' than Hamilton and Verstappen

Vettel, a four-time world champion and 53-time Grand Prix, says he assesses his achievements in the sport with a healthy dose of humility.

"Maybe I’m not as vain in general," said Aston Martin's new driver. "I’m happy with my life and what I have achieved.

"I have made mistakes in the past, and admit that I have. But ultimately I don’t think it has always been completely up to me. It is always a combination of things.

"It’s not like I look back and say ‘okay, this year I could have won the championship and I didn’t’.

"In the past five, six, seven years it has been Mercedes at the top and if you wanted to win the championship you had to be in that car.

"Plus the combination obviously of Lewis. I’m not giving any discredit.

"What I am convinced of is that I can be among the best, be the best. I have proven to be that, but that does not give you a guarantee that you are the best every single day."

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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.