Formula One titles seem easy for Sebastian Vettel, but fans are tougher
After clinching fourth F1 crown in India, German's next hurdle is regaining supporters' faith
Having clinched four successive Formula One titles with his Indian Grand Prix victory, Sebastian Vettel's next challenge will be to win back the admiration of fans and something more than grudging respect from fellow drivers.
Vettel can bask in the knowledge he has joined F1 greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as the only men to win four straight championships, but it has been far from a perfect year for the German, whose 2013 title march was overshadowed by repeated booing from fans, anger from other drivers and teams at a perceived questioning of their professionalism, and his contemptuous flouting of team rules.
F1 organisers, too, are doubtless less than thrilled at Vettel's 2013 stroll - in which he claimed the title with a yawning three races to spare.
His dominance this year, akin to that of 2011, with the tighter 2010 and 2012 championships thrown in, was the most profound F1 had seen since the Schumacher era, which ushered in increasingly contrived rule changes designed to inject some much-needed competitiveness and spice into the sport.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, whose early-season title challenge faded, said Vettel's imperious season alienated all but the most committed fans.
"Personally, I feel for the fans because I remember when Michael Schumacher was winning," Hamilton said. "I remember waking up in the morning to watch the start of the race then going to sleep, and then waking up when it ended because I already knew what would happen.