LONDON, England - After failing to beat him to the title for the last four years Sebastian Vettel's Formula 1 rivals may be hoping that fatherhood will slow the German in 2014.
The 26-year-old Red Bull driver's spokeswoman has confirmed that the four-times F1 champion's long-time girlfriend Hanna Prater, who rarely attends races, was expecting their first child.
SLOWER? NOT LIKELY!
Vettel will join a small number of active F1 drivers with children: Frenchman Romain Grosjean, Brazilian Felipe Massa and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.
While some in motor racing hold the view that having children can make a driver less willing to push to the limit the evidence suggests Vettel's rivals may be in for further disappointment.
Grosjean has become faster this year with Lotus while Vettel's retired compatriot Michael Schumacher won five of his record seven F1 championships after the birth of his two children.
The 26-year-old Red Bull driver's spokeswoman has confirmed that the four-times F1 champion's long-time girlfriend Hanna Prater, who rarely attends races, was expecting their first child.
SLOWER? NOT LIKELY!
Vettel will join a small number of active F1 drivers with children: Frenchman Romain Grosjean, Brazilian Felipe Massa and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.
While some in motor racing hold the view that having children can make a driver less willing to push to the limit the evidence suggests Vettel's rivals may be in for further disappointment.
Grosjean has become faster this year with Lotus while Vettel's retired compatriot Michael Schumacher won five of his record seven F1 championships after the birth of his two children.