F1 Team Bosses Pick Vettel for 2011 Title

Ferrari may have shown the highest level of consistency in their testing this winter, but it's still Red Bull that leads the way in terms of performance, as argued by several important figures of the paddock in recent weeks.

With only a few days remaining until the 2011 Formula 1 season kick-off – and the wait is killing us, take our word for it – reigning champions Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel are arguably best positioned to defend their titles this year, if we are to trust some highly-respectable team bosses in the Great Circus.

“The favourite is always the reigning champion, so it's Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull,” said Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug, when asked by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport to name his favorites for the 2011 F1 crown.

“They (Vettel and Red Bull) have shown very good performance in all the tests,” added Scuderia Toro Rosso (Red Bull's sister team) team boss Franz Tost, while Sir Frank Williams, maybe the most experienced figure in Formula 1 today, named two favorites in the title fight this season.

“Red Bull and Ferrari will lead the field once again,” argued the Williams F1 Team owner.

Hispania Racing's Colin Kolles, who must go through quite some headaches these days given the shady financial situation of the Spanish team, also referred to Red Bull as being the favorites to dominate the field once again this year, while Peter Sauber would put his money on 23-year old Vettel for the second year running.

“My gut feeling about the favorite is Vettel,” he said.