Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Sebastian Vettel's near miss in 2009 will stand him in good stead ahead of the coming season.
Red Bull boss says young German "has all the makings of a champion"
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner believes Sebastian Vettel's World Championship near miss last season has left him with all the attributes he needs to mount a successful 2010 campaign.
Contesting just his second full season in Formula One, the 22-year-old won a total of four grands prix in 2009 and pushed eventual title winner Jenson Button all the way to the penultimate race in Brazil.
Horner feels that Vettel's near miss will strengthen his character heading into a season that could end with the German becoming the youngest title winner in World Championship history.
"Sebastian has all the makings of a champion," said Horner ahead of the first race of the season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, on Sunday.
"It's still very early to say, and ultimately he has to go out and do it.
"But he is a very intelligent driver, tremendously talented, has a high work ethic, and is a very dedicated and focused individual.
"Most of all, he is a nice guy as well, a very popular member of the team because he is very down to earth. Success hasn't changed him.
"His rise to stardom has been meteoric so far, and he is improving, evolving and growing. He is a remarkable character, but I see a very hungry and determined young man.
"Now with two full years' experience and a championship campaign under his belt, I think he goes into this year pretty much the complete driver."
Cheeky
Horner also said that Vettel's open, friendly nature has also won the admiration of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who sees him as someone able win the sport new fans.
"Bernie has really warmed to him," he added.
"He appreciates his cheeky personality, and he is very quick-witted like Bernie, which isn't a normal trait for a German. He is very un-Germanic.
"He understands British humour brilliantly. He'll regularly watch Monty Python, Little Britain and Harry Enfield sketches, and he is a very good mimic.
"With Bernie, he likes the way Sebastian drives, and he likes the way he handles himself.
"He is always willing to sign autographs, and as an ambassador for Formula One, he is fantastic."
With Michael Schumacher making his return to F1 this season after a three-year absence, Horner also thinks that Vettel - nicknamed 'Baby Schumi' by the German media - will be far from intimidated by the presence of the seven-times World Champion.
"He was still in nappies when Michael was making his grand prix debut," said Horner.
"They are different characters. Sebastian is Sebastian, his own man, and he will continue to grow into being his own person. He is not a mini-Schumi.
"He has a great deal of respect for Michael and what he has achieved, and off track they are good friends.
"But on track he will race him as hard as any other competitor."
