Vettel denies he was 'desperate' to overtake Verstappen

  • Published on 07 Oct 2018 09:54
  • comments 14
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Sebastian Vettel has denied that he was desperate to overtake Max Verstappen for third place during the Japanese Grand Prix. The German attempted to pass the Red Bull driver into the Spoon curve but made contact, spinning him around and sending him to the back of the grid.

The four-time world champion recovered to finish in sixth place behind the Mercedes', Red Bulls and this teammate Kimi Raikkonen. But despite dropping to 67 points behind championship rival Lewis Hamilton, Vettel says he doesn't regret making the move.

“I don’t regret the move,” he told Sky F1. “Obviously with that outcome you would do different because with hindsight it’s always different. But inside the car, the gap was there, his battery was clipping, I was boosting, I saved my battery, I had more speed, I would make the corner, I was side-by-side and he didn’t give enough room and we touched.”

Vettel doesn't believe that he was to blame for the incident, and cited Verstappen's aggressiveness by mentioning the previous altercation with Raikkonen on lap 1. Verstappen locked up at the final chicane and rejoined the track, pushing Raikkonen wide.

“I was obviously pushing to get past but I wasn’t desperate to get past,” said Vettel. “I knew he had a penalty but I also felt that we were faster. And then he was clipping on that straight with the battery and I was catching, I had a good exit. Obviously the Safety Car helped to be closer.

“The gap was there but as soon as he saw me obviously he defended. But I had the inside. As soon as he realised somebody is close or next to him he tries to, in my opinion, push when you shouldn’t push any more. I mean look at Kimi: he’s off the track and he comes back and if Kimi just drives on they collide.

"But it’s not always right that the other guy has to move. We’re all racing, the race is long, for me the gap was there otherwise I don’t do it. I think I got through the whole field without any trouble, sometimes closer, sometimes with more margin. It’s normal that sometimes it gets close but I think you need to always leave a space. In that case I couldn’t go anywhere and then we touched."

Vettel has lost the plot and his mind... (and the world championship fight)
Quite rich to blame VER for that incident.

  • 1
  • Oct 7 2018 - 10:28

Replies (14)

Login to reply
  • Vettel has lost the plot and his mind... (and the world championship fight)
    Quite rich to blame VER for that incident.

    • + 1
    • Oct 7 2018 - 10:28
    • Vettel knows, it's his last desperate shot at the championship. Next year he will be the new Bottas.
      It's a shame, someone with such limited driving skills can call himself 4x F1 champion.

      • + 0
      • Oct 7 2018 - 18:29
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    Vettels arrogance will be his downfall. However the stewards sided with him. Wether we like it or not.

    • + 0
    • Oct 7 2018 - 11:01
    • Deeming it a "racing incident" and not penalising isn't the same as "siding with". If you were implying that Vettel deserved a penalty for his stupid move there, then I would agree.

      • + 1
      • Oct 7 2018 - 12:34
  • It seems to look different of you sat in the car!!? It was from all positions over aggressive. He shouldn’t have gotten away with, just not fair in comparisson to the other drivers

    • + 1
    • Oct 7 2018 - 12:29
  • If it's true he wasn't desperate then his move was even stupider. Verstappen has less engine power so needs to ride corners like that with a different line in order to carry as much speed as possible into the subsequent straight.
    If Vettel doesn't realise that and just thinks "ah, a gap" then it's Vettel who isn't demonstrating sufficient racing experience here ....

    • + 1
    • Oct 7 2018 - 12:33
  • Also:
    -Verstappen left space for Vettel, who just carried too much speed in order to use it
    -Vettel trying to cast doubt on Verstappen based on the altercation with Raikkonen is just childish. It's not as if Vettel himself hasn't slammed into a certain Mercedes himself earlier this season.

    • + 1
    • Oct 7 2018 - 12:37
    • f1ski

      Posts: 726

      leaving space isn't entering the space the other car occupies. They are racing and the goal is to overtake. This isn't a sport where another driver appears and you announce your intentions to take the spot. Vettel took the the space held his position and verstappen came in.

      • + 1
      • Oct 8 2018 - 03:52
  • xoya

    Posts: 583

    And to think they named Kvyat "the torpedo". Verstappen is obviously the greatest torpedo that ever lived. Maldonado has nothing on the guy.

    • + 0
    • Oct 7 2018 - 14:33
    • Time to take the pills!

      • + 0
      • Oct 7 2018 - 14:59
    • xoya

      Posts: 583

      That's rich, coming from a tinfoil hat king. :)

      • + 0
      • Oct 7 2018 - 15:09
  • Verstappen, the bane of Ferrari ;)

    • + 0
    • Oct 7 2018 - 19:25
    • More like the bane of anyone trying to overtake him. ;)

      • + 0
      • Oct 7 2018 - 22:45
    • xoya

      Posts: 583

      @calle.itw
      Finally, someone with some common sense. :)

      • + 0
      • Oct 8 2018 - 00:41

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
-
Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
-
Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 2,587
  • Podiums 98
  • Grand Prix 185
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (26)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar