Vettel yearns to see the chequered flag

By Alan Baldwin

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Sebastian Vettel has at least been consistent this season, even if the Toro Rosso driver's results are hard to reconcile with his unwanted nickname of 'Baby Schumi'.

The 20-year-old German remains the only Formula One driver yet to finish a grand prix in 2008, the only one of the 22 who started the year still to be included in the standings after four races.

Four retirements, three of them on the opening lap, add up to a string of zeros and just 40 race laps completed since the end of 2007.

The last time that Vettel saw the chequered flag was in China in October, when he finished fourth for the Ferrari-powered team.

It is, as he pointed out with a dash of irony at the Turkish Grand Prix, not enough to write a book about but neither is he too downcast.

"I think it's part of the game, sometimes it goes up and sometimes it goes down," he told Reuters.

"We've had four races and in three of them I had a collision on the first lap, which can happen. In one we had a technical issue and had to retire.

"I am very convinced that the rest of the season won't continue like that because it's basically quite impossible," he added.