Mindful of the effect Michael Schumacher's domination of F1 had on the sport, Bernie Ecclestone suggests that Sebastian Vettel's dominance is coming to an end.

At the height of the Schumacher era, as the German reeled off win after win, title after title, interest in the sport declined. Indeed, things got so bad sections of the media virtually dropped their coverage of the sport.

Today, as Vettel heads towards his fourth successive title, the F1 supremo is mindful that along with the media, the moneymen, sponsors and promoters, will lose interest if virtually every race is going to end with the same result.

Talking to Bild, Ecclestone insists that despite three successive wins, two of them on circuits where Red Bull usually struggles, Vettel's grip on the sport will soon diminish.

"His domination will end, maybe in 2014," he told Bild. "We're going to have completely new cars, new engines, new rules. That will be the chance for Ferrari and Mercedes to catch up with Vettel. Next year, it might not be the best driver but the best car that wins the title."

Of course, the key phrase in all that is "catch up", in 2014, as in 2013, it is up to the opposition to raise its game.

The cars may be different next year, but as we have seen with Leyton House, Williams and McLaren, Adrian Newey can come up with the goods no matter what the rule book dictates.

Furthermore, Renault, as witnessed in various eras, and having been at the forefront of turbo technology when it was first introduced to the sport, is no slouch.

Should Vettel take pole for the opening race next season, and, even worse, take victory, the loudest booing will no doubt be heard from the little man in the white shirt and grey Beatle mop climbing into the back of a Maybach.

As for his claim that "he doesn't give Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton a chance..." were the situation reversed would they? Winning is what they were all born to do.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Frieds, 11/10/2013 7:12

"I agree with xoanon. I don't have the digital TV as I can't afford it here is South Africa. I go and visit someone (who doesn't watch the racing but clearly like me). I would love to watch the GP2 and GP3 as well but I can't impose like that, F1 is enough! Even though Vettel is winning (oh, only 4 in a row currently) the racing behind him is brilliant and that seems to be what FOM want us to see as that's all they show! I love the racing even if it is behind the actual winner!!"

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2. Posted by Brewster46, 25/09/2013 14:58

"The fact that Vettel is winning every week is an issue to the TV popularity of the sport. I am a huge fan of Formula 1 but not a fan of Vettel. I cannot deny his talent - He proves it week after week in all types of situations. Right now we are very fortunate to have so many very accomplished drivers and varied personalities to continually make the sport intriguing to watch and follow every week. However I find myself turning off the broadcast at the conclusion of the race because I do not want to watch Sebie go through his antics on the victory lap. Maybe more less dedicated viewers will not even turn on the TV event knowing that the outcome is a done deal. For me - I am too much of a fan not to turn it on and am pleased with the fine job NBC Sports is doing with the telecast. "

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3. Posted by xoanon, 25/09/2013 13:18

"The partial hiding away of F1 behind pay walls is having a larger detrimental effect on viewing figures than any dominance by a single driver/team ... There was a 22% drop in unique viewers in the UK last year, while Vettel's bigger 2013 dominance hasn't resulted in a bigger crash in viewers as that resulting from the Sky contract."

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Wishful thinking from Ecclestone?

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