Formula 1: This Sebastian Vettel stat is embarrassing

Sebastian Vettel has had a frustrating and disappointing 2020 Formula 1 season, but this particular stat is most embarrassing.

We all know that the 2020 Formula 1 season has not been kind to Ferrari. It has been even less kind to one of Ferrari’s two drivers, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.

We all also know that Vettel probably doesn’t care. He was dropped by the Scuderia for next year even before the 2020 season began in favor of McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr., reportedly without even having discussed the possibility of returning, and he has already signed a contract to drive for Aston Martin (currently Racing Point) next year.

But one particular statistic illustrates just how big of a disaster this season has been, to the point where it is embarrassing for the man who ranks third on the all-time wins list.

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Both Racing Point drivers have missed time this year, with Sergio Perez missing the two races at Silverstone Circuit with COVID-19 and with Lance Stroll missing the race at the Nürburgring with a stomach illness.

Called upon to replace both drivers was Nico Hulkenberg, who lost his seat with Renault to Esteban Ocon after last season. Unfortunately for Hulkenberg, mechanical issues in the first race at Silverstone Circuit prevented him from competing, so he has only competed in two races this year.

He finished in seventh place after qualifying in an impressive third behind only the two Mercedes teammates at Silverstone Circuit, and he finished in an impressive eighth after starting all the way back in 20th (last) at the Nürburgring. He had completed just four laps throughout the race weekend prior to lights out.

Despite having only competed in two races this season, Hulkenberg has outscored Vettel over the course of the last eight rounds.

You read that correctly.

With his two top eight finishes in two races, Hulkenberg has scored 10 points this season. Vettel, who has scored 17 points in 11 events, has scored just eight points since Hulkenberg was supposed to make his season debut in the first race at Silverstone Circuit eight races ago, with one point coming from a 10th place finish in that race, six points coming from a seventh place finish at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and another point coming from his 10th place finish at Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.

There are other drivers who Hulkenberg has outscored during this eight-race span as well, but those are the drivers you’d expect to not contend for points at all.

None of them drive for a team nearly as good as Ferrari, despite Ferrari having had a dreadful year. In addition to Vettel, Hulkenberg has outscored the two Alfa Romeo teammates, the two Haas teammates and the two Williams teammates during this eight-race span, despite only competing in two events.

To illustrate just how dreadful this Vettel statistic is, take a look at what his teammate, Charles Leclerc, has done this year. He has outscored the 33-year-old German 63-17 as a whole, and he has scored 45 points since Hulkenberg first got behind the wheel of the Mercedes-powered RP20.

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At least Vettel can take solace in the fact that he is set to drive the same car that Hulkenberg has driven next year. That is probably the highlight of his season so far, and it will probably remain that way.

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