Vettel on AWS ranking: Computers over people
Sebastian Vettel Belgian GP press
Below Charles Leclerc and even Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen in the AWS rankings, Sebastian Vettel says that’s “how it is in our world” with computers being believed “more than the people”.
Earlier this month Amazon Web Services (AWS) courted controversy when it released its list of the top 20 fastest drivers using data taken from 1983 to 2019.
Ayrton Senna claimed the number one spot ahead of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton while four-time World Champion Vettel was down in 10th place.
The German even ranked lower than his Ferrari team-mate Leclerc as well as the two biggest surprises inside the top ten, Trulli and Kovalainen.
No-one:
AWS: Heikki Kovalainen is the eighth fastest #F1 driver in the last 40 years. pic.twitter.com/aS2OuurZy6
— Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) August 18, 2020
“I think it’s very difficult to judge and I don’t know if the algorithm is good enough there yet,” Vettel said.
“I think it would make more sense to ask someone who has really been around for a long time. I think he can then give a better impression.”
“But,” Vettel added, “that is how it is in our world. We believe the computer more than the people…”
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F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn has previously defended the controversial ranking.
According to the former Ferrari and Mercedes man…
“What we set out to do here was just to try and identify who we thought was the fastest driver – a driver who has demonstrated his speed over one lap and not necessarily his racing prowess or his results,” Brawn told ESPN.
“There’s been one or two surprises but when you delve into it, there’s a certain amount of sense.
“Someone who worked with Jarno who I know very well said that if grands prix were five laps long, he’d win every race because his speed was phenomenal over a very short period.
“We’ve extrapolated this and we’re quite proud of it and I think it stands scrutiny and it’s controversial and we will get lots of debate around it and maybe we will refine it.
“I don’t think people are laughing at it. I think it’s caused plenty of debate. I think once you understand the methodology then people will start to understand.”
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