Outside Line: No need for Vowles to clarify truth even if Wolff cries

Before proceeding with this report, it is important to know that every driver in Formula 3, Formula 2, and, of course, Formula 1 has exceptional talents. Just getting to Formula 1, the hurdles, the obstacles, and a bunch of other wild young rivals all targeting one of 20 seats available at the pinnacle of the sport.

These are true talents, and when we judge them, we don't judge them as mere mortals like ourselves, but with exceptional race drivers, of which the most exceptional of the current era are the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso - the latter in his heyday and when inspired of late.

The cream of the crop. They are the benchmark for F1 drivers. So, when one says Logan Sargent is not a good driver, he is not good enough for Formula 1 relative to that trio.

But take an example, such as Antonio Giovinazzi. He was never a fit for Formula 1, but he is building a fine legacy for himself in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and is already a Le Mans winner. Ditto Marcus Ericsson, F1 journeyman to IndyCar star, and 2022 Indy 500 winner.

So there is life after Formula 1. But when we compare drivers now, the benchmarks are the three above-mentioned. Those are special drivers. The rest are trying to get there, but "special" ones are the World Champions we have on the F1 grid currently.

All indications are Colapinto is not. It's harsh to judge the kid after his first practice sessions on Friday and his first full day as a F1 driver. But Vowles will know better; he will have data or 'receipts' so to speak before making the claim. And, time will tell how good the latest F1 rookie will be.

In terms of Mick Schumacher, he has been there and done that. First, I am a fan. I do believe that he was poorly managed throughout his career. Sure, Guenther Steiner was his enemy in the end, but the bulk of the blame for his failure falls on those closest to him. His inner circle. The kid had no chance.

Be sure that if Michael Schumacher was making the calls, Mick would have never ended up at Haas. It would have been a totally different story for his boy under the seven-time F1 World Champion's watch. Namely, his presence in the decision-making of his lad and a Jos Verstappen-style beady eye on goings on in his son's first F1 team garage.

But I have to take off my Mick-fanboy cap and acknowledge that he hasn't delivered. He is not "special" if you speak to the majority of people in the paddock. But he has the potential to be a good driver. Maybe the level of Carlos Sainz (who might still become one of those "special" drivers in an Alain Prost manner), but it's not because of natural 'alien-like' natural talent.

It's because of sheer hard work to become that good. Nico Rosberg-style, where he had to go beyond his normal self to beat Hamilton, as he did in 2016.

With the above living legends F1 trio as the "special" yardsticks, where do Colapinto and Schumacher Junior fit in the pecking order? Do they have the potential to become "special"? You tell me!

I'm coming out in defence of James Vowles. Yes, he speaks a lot, but he can as an F1 team principal does. And while initially I felt he was talking too much, he has walked the talk. Under his watch, Williams is getting better. Sainz is coming from Ferrari.

This past week, he defied everybody by putting Colapinto in the car and justified it. That is the way drivers should be promoted from within the ranks, not with bags of cash for a change at Grove. That is not to say the Argentinian driver is not bringing sponsorship money.

Vowles took a pummeling for his hard-truth comments most are too fearful to make. For the noob boss, the reaction from Howler-in-Chief was a "Hello and welcome to the team principal, Piranha Pool."

Vowles 'crossed swords' for the first time with his former boss, Toto Wolf, who in my humble opinion has his own well-curated F1 narrative, and that his former employee called it out will probably irk him. He snapped at the 'rebellious puppy' for breaking ranks.

But there are questions. Where was Toto when the Schumachers decided Mick should go to Haas? He was nowhere; however, credit to him when Schumacher got the Haas boot, Wolff did throw in a lifeline to keep Mick on as a reserve and lobbies hard to get him a drive.

So then, why not promote him to the drive alongside George Russell, if Mick is indeed a "special" one? Instead, he signed unproven, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, whom he clearly believes is "special," or he would not have signed the kid instead of Schumi's boy.

Berating Vowles was out of line and not his call to make because he has not put his money where his mouth is, and put the chips down and offered Schumacher junior the drive because he knows "special" Mick is not. Compared to Max, Lewis, and Fernando, the yardsticks used by James.

In my book, Vowles has no need to apologise for calling it honestly and correctly about both drivers. He should stick to his guns, and be an honest and independent F1 team boss, which he he is clearly trying to be.

This is time for James to break away from Wolff's lair and stand his ground or remain another one of too many 'puppies' in the paddock.