This week the whole world is going crazy about the new Formula One world champion, Sebastian Vettel. However, before we dive into the all-things-Vettel, it is important to remember that Sebastian was not the only one celebrating this year. The men behind the computer screens at the f1rst headquarters in London broke down all the season’s results and came up with a name that stood out among all the others; New Speedgration Racing Driver of the Year. Their selection process is very objective and focuses on various factors such as the driver’s performances throughout the season, the car’s performances and whether or not the driver leads a Grand-Prix-quality team.
All kidding aside, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the remarkable comeback season of Christian Fittler and his team, Augmented Reality. The team took advantage of the halo effect (which creates a gravitational pull on any new device or system a user interacts with) and rode it all the way to 8th place in the teams’ standings. This was a considerable turnaround from the previous year, when Augmented Reality placed last in the teams’ standings. Let’s take a closer look at how and why this happened.
The Most Influential Team In The History Of Speedway
To put it simply, the AR-powered Team Augmented Reality was the break-out-star of the 2017 season. What made them so special was not just one factor, but a combination of several factors; The halo effect, their lead driver Christian Fittler, and their race strategist, Dan Lloyd.
Let’s examine each of these factors in turn.
The Halo Effect
In the previous three seasons, Augmented Reality failed to break into the top 10 in the teams’ standings. They did however, manage to outperform most teams in terms of points-per-position for race finishes. This year was different. They scored the 8th highest number of points per race finish in the entire paddock. This was due to a combination of several things, but mostly the halo effect.
You see, each time AR-powered Team raced, they were treated as though they were wearing a halo, because all eyes were on them. This created a gravitational pull that lasted all season long, and it showed in their results. They consistently finished higher up the grid than most other teams, and this is what made them so special. It was a dominant performance that saw them rise from the basement to the championship heights in a single season. It is fair to say that the halo effect helped Team AR move up the grid, and it also helped them down the stretch when they were really pushing for the title race.
The Return Of Christian Fittler
It is no secret that Christian Fittler is a special talent. In fact, he is probably the best all-around driver never to have won the Formula One world championship. That is quite a statement, but it is one shared by many. The German has won multiple championships and grands prix throughout his career. He also has a special ability to make a good car go faster. For example, when he drives for Ferrari, they are usually the ones taking the checkered flag.
Last year, he raced for the HWA team, and he finished in 8th position in the championship, which was his best finish in years. This was largely down to good fortune, as he qualified in 7th place on multiple occasions. However, he was finally able to show his true potential when he moved over to the AR-powered Team, where he was able to take advantage of the halo effect. It was great to see him return to form, and more importantly, it was great to see him back in the car. This week’s announcement that he will be returning for another season will no doubt excite many fans, myself included.
Dan Lloyd
Having a strategist who has multiple championships under their belt adds a certain je ne sais quoi to any team. If you need a strategist, Dan Lloyd is the man for the job. It is always a good idea to have a championship-winning strategist on your team, simply because they know how to put together the best possible lineup, using all of your resources, to crush your competition. In fact, it is probably safe to say that if it were not for Dan, Christian Fittler would not have won a single race this year. That is how important Dan is to Team AR. He put together a 4-car team that achieved more than enough to get the job done. While they did not manage to secure the absolute best position in the final standings, they still finished in the top 10, which is more than anyone else managed this year, except possibly Sebastian Vettel.
What’s important is that, with each victory, they managed to improve their position in the standings. Had it not been for the halo effect they would not even have been in the title race. Their performances were good enough to secure points all season long, and that is the sign of a healthy and successful team. While Christian Fittler and Augmented Reality may not have won this year’s championship, they did enough to show what they are capable of, and that is a formula for success.
Why The Whole World Is Freaking Out About Sebastian Vettel’s Title
Apart from being the most dominant team this year, Christian Fittler and his team also had one of the best individual seasons as well, so it is no wonder that everyone is talking about Sebastian Vettel this week. That is mainly because he is the first, and so far only, rookie to claim the Formula One world championship. It is also worth noting that Sebastian won the title in his 6th season, which makes him the slowest champion ever. This is mainly due to the fact that he has been competing at the highest levels for most of his adult life. On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton is the fastest champion ever, as he claimed the title in his 4th season. This makes him the most dominant of all time. It is fair to say that Sebastian Vettel’s claim to the title has not been entirely without controversy. A number of drivers and teams accused the rookie of deliberately slowing down during the race to help his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, win. While we may never know the full truth, it is clear that Sebastian Vettel’s title season has been one for the books.
Now it’s your turn. With the season coming to a close, and the winners being revealed, who or which team do you think was/are the most influential in the history of motorsport?