1/43 Model Review: 2010 World Champion: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing RB6 Renault)

Background

The 2009 RB5 by the tail end of the season was the car to beat, and Red Bull carried on that momentum with the RB6, winning the first of its four championships, with Vettel taking the Drivers' Titles. The car earned 15 pole positions in 19 races with Webber winning 4 races to Vettel's 5 races. The final season of Bridgestone rubber before moving to Pirellis, the season was an exciting title battle, with Webber and Alonso being the favourites going into the final race, but it was Vettel who snatched victory at the final race to clinch the title.

Minichamps

Minichamps 410100005

Minichamps have done a few versions of the RB6, with the standard car being based on the early season. Other than removing the nose cameras, I can't see any difference to the rest of the shapes for the late season versions. Anyway, as usual, Minichamps have good paint and decals onto a nicely proportioned shape. One thing that bothers me is the slightly ill fitting engine cover, that doesn't seem to be a one off build issue, but you can see it on all my models. 2010 was the first year for Minichamps to go to the long boxes, thanks to a ban on refueling and thus longer F1 cars were the result. 

Minichamps 410100305

Vettel took a pole to lights victory with Webber starting second, initially losing second to Kubica, but when he retired, Webber followed Vettel home to another one-two finish. This car also comes in Suzuka Legend series.

Minichamps 410100205

Vettel took victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix having started behind team-mate Webber, both of whom were on the front row of the grid. There is a standing figure version of this car made exclusively for some German modelshops. 

Minichamps 410100105

The Red Bull RB6 propelled Sebastian Vettel to the 2010 title at Abu Dhabi to become the sport’s youngest ever Drivers' World Champion. It was a fine victory, with Seb leading much of the race. His main championship rivals, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber, pitted too early, and found it difficult to make progress up the order. Frustratingly, Alonso and Webber finished in seventh and eighth respectively, after getting caught behind the Renaults of Petrov and Kubica. This allowed Seb to clinch the title by a mere four points, earning his first of four World Championships to date.

Score: 7/10

I've seen a couple of shots of a Tameo RB6, but I think they are customised, so I'm not going to review it here. Other than that, I'm not aware of any other models of the RB6 in this scale.