Vettel receives compliments: ''He was so far ahead of the competition''

At the age of fourteen, Sebastian Vettel already pulled on BMW team boss Mario Theissen to tell him he would be driving for BMW next season. It marks the maturity of the German who was way ahead of his time.

Professional Vettel

That's what Mario Theissen, the former team boss of BMW in Formula 1, says in conversation with Motorpsort-total.com. He already looked back on the German's debut and his impressive performance during the junior categories, but also his adulthood at a young age is still remembered by the former team boss.

''He was so far ahead of the competition in terms of professionalism. He was awake four hours before a race, even though that race was already at eight in the morning. He did everything he could to appear as fit as possible for the day and his fitness programme was much better than the rest. He was interested in nothing but racing'', says Theissen.

Idol Schumacher

At the moment Vettel is in a more difficult period. Charles Leclerc puts Vettel in a difficult position at Ferrari. Therefore, the contract situation of Vettel is under pressure. The question is whether Vettel is still as motivated as he was when he made his debut. Theissen does not doubt the mentality of the Heppenheimer.

''Someone's character can't change and I don't believe his professional attitude has changed. He learned a lot from his idol Michael Schumacher, who also managed to get the most out of it'', concludes the former Formula 1 team boss.