Adrian Newey believes Sebastian Vettel will want to learn from the few mistakes he made in 2011 despite his dominant Formula 1 season.
Vettel became the youngest two-time champion ever last year after winning 11 races and taking a record-breaking 15 pole positions in the Red Bull. Although the German made very few mistakes throughout the year, Newey reckons he will try to learn from what he did wrong in order to be even stronger in 2012.
"I think all I can say is that Seb is a very bright young man who is very determined, very inquisitive and tries to understand everything about both the car and his own performance, and if he makes a mistake, which being human of course he does, then he tries to learn from that," Newey said. "So, he will be analyzing very carefully everything he has done this year and trying to improve on that.
"One example is after Montreal, where he was distraught post-race – that he had been beaten, having dominated the whole race, on the last lap. Well, we all were, to be honest. As a team we all learned a lesson from that, and I kick myself that we didn't take enough action in critical parts – as we could probably have done a bit more under the red flag, we could have said more about Jenson [Button]'s progress in those last few laps. It is those little things that you have to try and learn from."
Vettel lost the lead of the Canadian Grand Prix on the final lap to McLaren rival Button, who went on to win the race.
Newey also insisted both Vettel and the team have not lost any of their desire to continue winning despite the success over the past two years.
"There is a huge desire and hunger," he added. "And that comes wherever you are. If you are seventh you are aspiring to be higher, and wherever it is.
"And that is the funny thing about if you are doing well, from my experience, you don't feel as if you are doing anything differently than when you are not doing well. "