Sebastian Vettel headed south from Montreal to New York City where he had a walk-on with late night talk show host David Letterman on CBS. In recent times Letterman has been faring rather better than his NBC rival Jay Leno, a celebrated car fan, who used to pull in bigger audiences on a regular basis. Letterman, however, has long been a Formula 1 fan and, of course, is also a race team owner, in league with Bobby Rahal. His show is still a good way to get a message across to Middle America, where most people think “Formula 1” is some kind of hair product.
If the truth be told Letterman seemed a little too keen to show that he knows a lot about F1 (which is true), but gave the impression on a couple of occasions that he was talking over his guest. Sebastian, being a fairly sensible individual, played it well, but one sensed a certain amount of frustration when the host was talking about the workings of DRS, a subject which might not fascinate the average viewer in Busted Flush, Illinois.
Vettel illustrated the lack of knowledge about F1 in the United States by telling the story of the immigration official he met on his way to New York. What had been the purpose of his visit? The man had asked. Vettel replied that he had been at the Grand Prix. “Did you have a good seat?” asked the man from Homeland Security…
The interview got a decent amount of coverage, if only because Seb dropped the F word, while trying to stop Letterman talking about DRS and also by suggesting that testicles would be required to go racing on the New Jersey F1 track. This was not intended to be newsworthy, but in the F1 microcosm the use of such terminology is so commonplace that it is not considered to be indecent and it never entered his head that out in the night hundreds of daughters of the American Revolution were fainting with shock at such wild and unruly behaviour.
Vettel was down in New York to do a little promotion for Infiniti and for the New Jersey F1 race, which is due to join the calendar next year. He spent the day driving an Infiniti around the circuit, filming and generally making all the right promotional noises.
I guess Vettel certainly got people talking then, or at least hope so!
Gotta go and check out this Busted Flush you keep going on about. Sounds…charming
Looked to me as if Letterman was interviewing himself and Seb was there just to crack the odd joke with.
Don’t know why the Americans are getting upset about someone swearing on a late night show.
Some Americans are deeply religious and don’t like/use “F Bombs”. I can remember the f word being bleeped only a few years ago on late night UK tv. You have to respect other cultures.
This, from the nation that brought you American Pie.
Yeah “F bombs” are a no. They love to drop real bombs though.
It was great he had Vettel on his show, but it was a shame that he stifled him by talking so much over him that one of F1′s best personalities was unable to shine. Shame really.
Oh well that’s Infiniti sales down the pan in Middle America.
Wilson
Lettermans idea for each team to make a one-off oval car for Indy!! cool!!
Indy used to be part of the F1 WC. That’s heritage.
Could it happen? I can’t see HRT doing it, but let them opt out and see Ferrari, McLarena and Red Bull duke it out with the IndyCar teams.
You mean build one-off aero for a Dallara chassis?
Not necessarily. That’s for the indycar series. Indy 500 has long history of running to its own rules. Remember the ilmor Mercedes conrod block engine? If Indy allowed others to make chassis/ engines for the 500, imagine a red bull special designed by newey? The mouth waters.
Things are different now. When Champ Cars raced at Indy, it was run by USAC and ran mostly to Champ Car rules, but with their own tweaks. Now everything is controlled by IndyCar – there is no CART vs Indianapolis. The same people that write the rules for Indianapolis write the rules for IndyCar. IndyCar has limited the rules to allow for one chassis manufacturer (Dallara) and they’re sticking with that. It would be against their interests to potentially reduce the competitiveness of their regular runners by allowing others to come to the event with one-off specials.
I would love to see IndyCar return to an open chassis format. When the series was at it’s biggest, it was Reynard vs Lola vs Penske, and F1 was scared of it. It was awesome. Now it’s just another spec series… and sadly, nothing will change that unless we see a death or near-death of the series.
I did love the loophole that the Merc engine went through (though it was a push-rod engine, as all piston engines have connecting rods).
hey, it’s not totally spec this year, they’ve got multiple engine suppliers with either 1 or 2 turbos, and after this year, the teams will be able to add their own aero packages to the new chassis.
Hey Joe. Yeah, I’m not sure why they are getting so worked up about the language. An hour later on CBS, Craig Ferguson, a Scotsman, says nothing but that language and is even ruder, and funnier, than Letterman. Although I guess he doesn’t have the exposure, no pun intended, as Letterman.
PNJ
And this guy is on immediately after David Letterman. Don’t know what all the fuss is about…
Interesting that you raise the topic of foul-mouthed youths on an F1 blog.
It was the primary reason I stopped visiting James’ Allen’s otherwise excellent blog. It wasn’t James doing the cursing, it was the Commenters.
Standards are slipping here at Joe’s blog too.
It is an easy matter to install the WordPress bad language filter.
But that still requires posters to keep a rein on their tongues.
I’m sure Joe wants our children to come and read his excellent F1 Blog.
I’ve repeatedly suggested Joe switch OFF all comments, it’d make his life a lot calmer. The aficionados would still visit to read the worthwhile material, you know the bit ABOVE the Comments section.
But he’s a softy with you rabble.
Please Gents and Lady Karen, keep it clean, decent, and civil, for all our sake’s.
I have been called many things by readers of this blog, but softy is not one of them…
Far too soft on them Sir!
Because Americans are are uptight about everything. It’s really not that big of a deal. Mark Walhberg let a couple fly also. It’s commonplace on the late night shows .It’s just bleeped out. Doesn’t matter anyway- F1 will never make it in the US. Americans need crashes and fights to be entertained and NASCAR is fullfilling that need cheaper and they can pronounce the driver’s names. I’m one of the few massive American F1 fans. I won’t go to Austin because the thought of watching an F1 race with Americans is distasteful. Just returned from Canadian GP, great, knowledgable fans.
A rather simplistic view…
Before I worked in the USA I believed much the same thing (just watching Talladega nights pretty much hit what I’d assume about a European F1 driver arriving in America) but a few years of living with USAsians showed me that it’s such a big country with such diverse tastes and they will accept many things with an open mind if it’s shown some appeal.
I disagree. I can’t comment on how Austin will do but, as a resident of the area, I feel confident about the NJ race. There may not be a large group of “core” fans but I’m sure the spectacle will bring in the crowds. Even the Red Bull Air Races in Jersey City a few years ago were packed!
Worst interview ever…
Really, it was that bad, it was a conversation, not interview, and it was the first time 95 % of people watching that show ever heard of or saw Seb V., that be akin to LeBron James showing up on a German or British TV show. BTW, look at other interviews he gave him a fair amount of time, and was engaging him, rather than a dull dry sychophantic whatever.
Hey Vettel. Beauty Kenora Dinner Jacket. Now take off, eh?
Easy on the “Kenora Dinner Jacket’s”!! lol
Joe,
It’s a little outside the topic, but looking at the videos of Vettel in NJ what struck me was the lack of spectators watching the event. It brings to mind how little promoting for the sport the commercial rights holder does for the sport here in the US.
Why is it that Bernie does not lift a finger to promote the sport even when he has a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the exposure that Vettel driving around a track with Manhattan as a backdrop could bring, especially if it’s followed by an interview in one of the most viewed programs in the country.
How can he complain about the sport not making enough inroads or race track promoters not doing enough when he himself seems to do nothing for the sport in one of the largest potential markets in the world.
a Monday afternoon, without too much advanced heads up, and if they had wanted to get a crowd, they would have likely had to try to get more security than they did have. There was a decent grouping of people at the end of the upper straight if you look again at the video.
““Did you have a good seat?” asked the man from Homeland Security…”
I fell off my couch at that line. Yes, I would say he had a VERY good seat!
As far as some decrying the fact Joe allows comments in his blog: perhaps they would find golf more to their liking with all those pedantic rules and such instead of worrying about what others are posting? On that note, off I go racing at Mosport – no Le Mans viewing until I fire up the PVR Monday.
Oooh, vintage car? What do you drive? My father and I were tempted to bring out the beast this weekend… his 1962 Ford Galaxie. I might just do a Group-70 race with it later in the year.
That was painful to watch. The best part of the interview was Vettel’s border-crossing story, which was completely unprompted by Letterman. Vettel’s funnier in post-race press conferences!
George Carlin, in the late 60′s/early 70′s, made his name, & not incidentally, a King’s Ransom, repeating “the 7 dirty words”, on an album (remember those)? Far too many teens/college-age “adults” ate it up. Anybody can swear/curse. It’s no mean feat. At the age of 6, it can now be revealed, me and my, still, 2 best friends, repeated all the “dirty” words we knew and laughed ourselves silly. We got it out of our systems soon after that. Swearing ain’t cool, it’s juvenile.
George Carlin knew a lot more about free speech and the bizarre attitude some people have to language invented by our ancestors…
You may want to investigate the ‘crude’ language removed from Shakespeare or the roman ruins by uptight Victorians.
Grow up. And relax.
LOL. Carlin knew how to manipulate the “LCD”. Like, wow man, “uptight”? I don’t need a history lesson. However, YOU could use one in logic, reason and rational thought. To wit: someone else uttering a word is hardly justification for the mindless to repeat it. As far as “grow up and relax” is concerned; put your “Ivory Tower” twisted logic to a practical test. The next time your out in public, speak, LOUDLY, a string of profanity. Then defend yourself with the lame excuse that the “great unwashed” must “grow up and relax”. Clearly, you’ve done neither. Suggestion: when around adults, rather than your playmates, fake it.
??? BTW 7 dirty words wasn’t that much of Carlin’s gig/act.
You’re sorely mistaken. It’s what “put him on the map”.
Nah… what put him on the map was getting on TV, back before cable existed so he couldn’t cuss…. being on Merv Griffin doing the Hippy Dippy Weatherman… “forecast for tonight: dark, getting lighter near dawn…”
No, I’m sorry, your mistaken. The album was the hottest seller at the time. Couldn’t be found in stores, for awhile. Had to be back ordered (which was unheard of for records, at the time). His voice was blaring from every college campus dorm. Then the college tours began and THEN ..you know the rest of the story…
That’s like saying that Ferrari was totally absent from F1 success until M. Schumacher came along. don’t be a tool, or at least don’t base your statements on one inflection point.
Yes Letterman was painful to watch, while Vettel handled it smoothly and came off cool as ever. As another commenter pointed out, the previous guest dropped F-bombs too, which was bleeped out and hardly uncommon on late night tv. Letterman’s expression of shock at the “to race there you need big balls” was to get more laughs, not even close to being offensive in the context of his regular guests.
Funny. When I, a Canaidan, watch UK Top Gear I always find myself wishing Clarkson would shut up and let the guest talk some.
Funny how a body of water seems to change perception.
Love the blog Joe!
definitely less of a wanker than the top gear chaps, and has been a partner in Indy car for more than 10 years. So he has some knowledge and cares, but wants to try to entertain the general public watching the show. who else has given 10 minutes to F1 aside from the 4 races shown on Network TV other than Dave?
What is no exposure a better option. The bleep is hardly that big a deal.
Seb did his best, but it wasn’t the greatest interview. Maybe they should have got Mika or Kimi to give one word answers so Mr Letterman would have even more time to talk to himself?
F1 fans here in Northern California tend to be pretty hard core – 5 am races perhaps. Most do some sort of racing in one of our many car clubs or at least spend too much money on fast cars racing around our fantastic roads.
Unfortunately the general population has no clue other than sports junkies that will watch any decent sport. That interview is not going to help. Kind of shocking because Letterman is normally great and is a serious car guy. Perhaps they had little time to prepare. Maybe it was that shirt!
Next time (if there is one) they should bring two drivers on and do something fun to show how good they really are. Imagine Webber and Vettel taking on a big NASCAR star or something. More video – lots more. Americans understand money – they would be interested to hear that Schumacher is almost a billionaire and Vettel et al make serious money as drivers. Talk about girls – tech – speed – there are plenty of interesting things they could have discussed. Frankly its hard to imagine that interview being much worse.
I guess interviews need good chemistry and they somehow got off on the wrong foot. It sounds like Vettel had no clue that Letterman is the real deal, and Letterman wasn’t ready.
Life goes on…
As an American, I don’t think the language would be any big deal. It’s a late night show anyway. Still I was surprised SV would drop an F-bomb; drivers are so controlled in what they say in the media. For race coverage I mostly watch the BBC and Sky and each often “apologize” for the slightest raw language during their coverage.
Dontcha just lurve American ‘chat’ show hosts who think their only job is to use their guests as idiot sidekicks… what a wasted opportunity… SebVet is one of the most human and articulate of the current crop of GP drivers who has a point of view and personality that would perhaps engage many of the US audience without the inane Letterman. As a 6-year immigrant into North America I am astounded at the banality of these kind of shows: Leno maybe has some saving grace as he is a petrol-head but his show is truly god-awful. Letterman is just creepy and has little or no respect for his guests. Poor Seb… no wonder so many of the drivers hate the PR side of their job when they are belittled by such crassness…
I hope that this isn’t too off topic and I apologize if it is.
New Jersey, with the Manhattan skyline and being a true street race, could definitely help F1′s presence in the US. In my opinion the Austin race will do little, if anything, due to its ridiculous approach to ticket sales. You have to buy a 10-year Personal Seat License for several $1,000 to get the opportunity to buy, what I consider, a good seat, Grandstand 15, and parking. For the general admission Grandstand 12, what I consider the only other good seating area, tickets were sold out before they went on sale to the general public last Sunday. I could have bought them between June 6st and the 9th as a “VIP” but passed because of their tiered pricing and lack of parking.
I have attend about 20 F1 races in North America and Europe since 1970 and have never encountered such a ridiculous race promotion. Have you? I really hope that Austin is a success and that New Jersey follows, but if they aren’t we still have that great race in Montreal.
Thanks for listening to me. You are without a doubt the finest F1 journalist reporting today.
Kindest regards.
Is it my imagination or, just at the end of the Infiniti/NJ clip was Vettel overdubbed with ‘Formula 1′ when his mouth said ‘Proper’? Got to love promo vids!
Infiniti seem to be doing a a reasonable product placement job!
As 6 Wheeled said above, Berne could have hyped this, but he rarely makes an effort at promotion which costs him money.
Good lord Letterman was driving me crazy! I am glad I am not the only one who thought he was being a prick. I think Jay Leno would have been a much better person to interview him.
And what is this nonsense that F1 should automatically be in Indy? WTF? Indy was terrible. A boring track. Boring city. If it should be anywhere by default it would be the Glen. But we all know that would not happen due to safety etc…
Austin is going to be excellent! And Letterman is a prick for being so quick to discount us. I could be partial because I live here. But it gives me a better understanding of why we are the perfect city for it.
I am excited for the folks who come here this year to see the USGP. November is going to be stellar weather… and you are going to fall in love with the city!
Language please!
Apologies!
This interview was very tame by North American standards.
The “F” bomb and the bleep outs have been standard business on late night TV in north america for over a decade. Vettel seemed to be the one using the swearing (does balls count as swearing? in an era where ‘pissed off’ has become everyday language) for ‘shock’ value in an effort to be edgy, young & hip. He came across as a mischievous kid who really is unrecognizable in North America. The fan base for F1 is so small in North America there is barely any newspaper coverage, almost zero mention on the sports channels, and the Canadian national broadcasters did not even bother to send crews for live reporting they just ran the bbc feed as if the race was in a foreign country.
Now if he’d of banged Snooki it would have been like the second coming over here (Jersey Shore reference you may be too intelligent to be aware of)
I like Letterman, but he was not good there… too much talking. There are times when he does marvelous interviews… often just when you think he can’t.
Re; the language, it’s not an issue here, really… just a small faction make a big deal about it. As for DL’s reaction to “big balls”, he was helping the crowd like Vettel by milking it for laughter… nothing other than that…
One thing made me sad: Vettel reacting to Letterman’s goofing around about the size of the US vs. Germany. When Letterman said, “and don’t you forget it…”, Seb reacting by saying “I’m just 24, I have nothing to…” It seemed to me he mistook Letterman as commenting about the most unfortunate aspect of German history. Made me think how sad it must be for young Germans growing up to learn about all that…
The thing that many of the Euro readers and so on are calling Letterman being rude may in actuality be the characteristics of Dave being a bit of a fan-boy. What;s being called rude interruption may in fact be excitement about the F1, since there’s probably not many in his circle that are that interested in it, and even Rahal and his Indycar partners aren’t necessarily paying that much attention to the F1.
Just be happy there was some national coverage on Network Tv, not just by the Carolina Punters on Speed.
It’s great to hear from the residents of Cliche-ville!
I’m glad that things are still the same there and everyone sounds like they’re doing fine. I’m looking forward to your next visit. Really.