First blog of 2012

Phil: My co-blogger has left me the honour of naming our driver of the year. As he suggested a dramatic podium-style top three countdown, I'd have to say my top three drivers of the year would be Vettel, Vettel and Vettel, with Jenson narrowly missing out on a podium position.

The cynics would probably say this has more to do with Adrian Newey's design genius, and that Vettel is merely a good driver in an outstanding car. The way I look at it is this. The first man you need to beat in F1 is your teammate - the only man against whom you're really competing on a level playing field. By any measure, Vettel thrashed Mark Webber, taking 15 poles and 11 wins to Mark's 3 poles and 1 win. We both agree that Mark is a world class driver, but Vettel had that edge - the pace to find another couple of tenths when it mattered in qualifying, the maturity to pull out a lead in the first few laps and then command the rest of the race from a position of strength, and perhaps most of all the confidence that comes with being world champion.

Even if he retired tomorrow, Vettel's already done enough in my view to put among the all time greats. Maybe not a Senna or a Schumacher, not yet, but certainly a Hakkinen or an Alonso.

Andrew Benson's blog at the BBC F1 site weighs up Vettel's talent in more depth, and includes this photo which in some ways sums up the 2011 season for me. Actually, I'd have moved Hamilton further back, probably colliding with Massa, and Heidfeld out of the frame completely, but otherwise fairly accurate.

Where was it taken? The first corner, of the first lap, of the first race.