Lewis Hamilton has been generating headlines in the lead up to the Brazilian Grand Prix but it is Sebastian Vettel who is world champion and the German can end the season with a win.
Talent spotting isn't easy. There's not a world star who didn't start out as a gangling and awkward looking kid. Even The Beatles were famously rejected by a guy from Decca records called Dick Rowe with the stuffy one line verdict that "guitar groups are on the way out."
So you probably shouldn't be too hard on the BMW racing executive who four years ago took the view that Sebastian Vettel didn't have what it took to reach the top. The young German had been promoted to become the team's Friday driver, and was the youngest at 19 years and 53 days ever to take part in a race weekend. Sadly, whoever was in charge took more notice of the keen young lad getting a speeding fine for leaving the pits too fast, than he did of his subsequent performances on the track.
When Red Bull came calling at the end of that year to offer Vettel a chance, nobody at BMW thought it was worth standing in his way. Four years later and whoever took the decision must be grateful only that his name doesn't seem to have eked out onto the internet.
Nick Heidfeld, one of BMW's star drivers alongside Robert Kubica at the time, has been doing his best to console the guy. He's told the German magazine Auto Bild: "That Sebastian would dominate Formula One was not foreseeable at the time. With empty fuel tanks he had good times, but compared to Robert and I he was too slow. He performed solidly but the car was good for more."
Fast forward and Vettel is now the sport's biggest star while Heidfeld has lost his job to Bruno Senna - and poor Kubica will struggle to compete next year as he continues recovering from a horrific rally accident. The queue to take his seat at Lotus Renault is forming, with GP2 champion Romain Grosjean looking most likely to get the gig.
Vettel can wrap up an incredible season on Sunday by winning the Brazilian Grand Prix. He's already matched Nigel Mansell's all-time record of 14 pole positions in a season, he's 1.7 to be fastest in qualifying again at Interlagos, and it's hard to find any reason why he shouldn't land that.
Lewis Hamilton is inevitably attracting all the headlines as the drivers arrive at the circuit, as he aims for back to back wins for the first time in 17 months. But that rather ignores that his victory in Abu Dhabi, good drive though it was, happened with Vettel off the track following a first lap puncture.
Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner was surprised and delighted that his star driver didn't flounce off in a huff but joined the pit wall team to watch the rest of the race and learn more about what they do. And that dedication is why you can trust the young German to put everything into one more weekend - and grab the chance to back him at slight odds against for his 12th win of an amazing campaign.
The guys at BMW couldn't spot a winner. There's no reason why we should make the same mistake!
