Vettel would do it again - Apparently

[Fire99]

Interview on Autosport makes Vettel's apology seem somewhat hollow.

An interesting stance:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106631

[dmitsi]

Good on him, I don't watch F1 for a parade, I want racing. Maybe I could accept some team orders at the closing stages of a season with it making the difference between a championship or second place. The first race however, it just winds me up. I know the teams are put in this position due to engine constraints, but I'm sure the introduction of these rules wasn't meant to stop racing. If anything it should be making the teams develop stronger engines that can handle the distance.

I'm glad Vettel passed him, he gave him enough laps to fight back, but he couldn't. Having watched the opening race of the Moto GP (spoilers to follow) and seeing Marquez follow Pedrosa for so many laps (resptfully as a team mate, but being held up), it was great to watch the rookie pass him. That and Rossi fighting back through to a second place finish, fighting so hard his bike ran out of fuel on the in lap. That is what I want to see. Not a parade of awesomely powerful cars sitting on each others arses.

[wanacoop]

Maybe he should have said all that just after the race. Now he's a weasel and a dick. Nice guy saying Webber has never helped him out, what about giving you the 'only' new front wing a couple years ago for one!
I just hope he needs help from Mark

at some point this season.

[Fire99]

dmitsi said:

Good on him, I don't watch F1 for a parade, I want racing.

Fair play. It's just a shame that he tried the "oo I'm sorry, I didn't understand" etc etc line after the race rather than being consistent with the line he's decided to take now.

That apparent 'worming his way out of it' route didn't do him any favours IMO.

[dmitsi]

Totally agree, but all of this would've been avoided if they just let them race. He realises he looks a bit of a tit, but I bet he doesn't care really. Especially if he wins the championship by a couple of points again.

F1 needs racing, especially on the opening race of the season. If he hadn't made the move there really wouldn't be anything of interest from that race at all.

[IainT]

Fire99 said:

That apparent 'worming his way out of it' route didn't do him any favours IMO.

Indeed - I just wish he'd been bold about it from the start and said "I'm a racer, it's what we do!". That would have almost certainly guaranteed a heavier censure from the team though but they're hardly going to shoot their golden goose are they?

[130R]

I like this comment on the BBC sport website: "There's no 'I' in team. There is however an 'I' in pr**k"

[wanacoop]

130R said:

I like this comment on the BBC sport website: "There's no 'I' in team. There is however an 'I' in pr**k"

Sweet

[MrMagoo]

Good on the lad. It's that mentality of his which makes him such a formidable force.

[The Wookie]

Can't help but think that he should have taken the PR kick for the sake of the team atmosphere. With someone like Webber it will come back and bite him in the arse.

If it were me I'd be actively looking for ways to sabotage his championship by now.

[belleair302]

As soon as the final tyre change has happened in the Chinese GP, turn off the radio Mark!!!

[anonymous-user]

dmitsi said:

Totally agree, but all of this would've been avoided if they just let them race. He realises he looks a bit of a tit, but I bet he doesn't care really. Especially if he wins the championship by a couple of points again.

F1 needs racing, especially on the opening race of the season. If he hadn't made the move there really wouldn't be anything of interest from that race at all.

They can't let them race, because of the marshmallow tyres. We won't see much genuine racing this year at all after the first lap or two.

[Qcarchoo]

Let battle commence

[AlexS]

dmitsi said:

Good on him, I don't watch F1 for a parade, I want racing. Maybe I could accept some team orders at the closing stages of a season with it making the difference between a championship or second place. The first race however, it just winds me up. I know the teams are put in this position due to engine constraints, but I'm sure the introduction of these rules wasn't meant to stop racing. If anything it should be making the teams develop stronger engines that can handle the distance.

I'm glad Vettel passed him, he gave him enough laps to fight back, but he couldn't. Having watched the opening race of the Moto GP (spoilers to follow) and seeing Marquez follow Pedrosa for so many laps (resptfully as a team mate, but being held up), it was great to watch the rookie pass him. That and Rossi fighting back through to a second place finish, fighting so hard his bike ran out of fuel on the in lap. That is what I want to see. Not a parade of awesomely powerful cars sitting on each others arses.

With the engine freeze they can't actually do anything significant to them.

As for 'giving' Webber some laps to fight back, would Vettel have actually got close enough to perform the overtake if Webber hadn't already eased off due to the team instructions.

[DaveNewsham]

The Wookie said:

Can't help but think that he should have taken the PR kick for the sake of the team atmosphere. With someone like Webber it will come back and bite him in the arse.

If it were me I'd be actively looking for ways to sabotage his championship by now.

• Makes mental note not to ask for team orders to be applied this season*

[Dancin]

Gloves are off then!

Excellent

This could back fire on Red Bull this season with the two garages against each other.

But I know which one will be sacked before the other if it does start to effect the Constructors Championship!

Can't wait for Saturday for a bit of blocking in qualifying and no respect in the race on Sunday.

[The Wookie]

DaveNewsham said:

• Makes mental note not to ask for team orders to be applied this season*

[Chrisgr31]

AlexS said:

With the engine freeze they can't actually do anything significant to them.

As for 'giving' Webber some laps to fight back, would Vettel have actually got close enough to perform the overtake if Webber hadn't already eased off due to the team instructions.

Not only did Webber ease off, but also Vettel got the last pitstop first, which Webber should have got as the lead car. That cost Webber several seconds as he had to do an extra lap on tyres beyond their best. Vettel came in first to enable to get away from Hamiliton, but it also enabled him to catch Webber.

Guess cooperation will be missing going forward.

[homer3uk]

Can't say I blame him. Go seb!!!

[toppstuff]

Now is the time to stop backing Vettel for the title. He will not be WDC this year.

His ego may not allow him to see it, but the truth remains that every team needs at some stage to have the second driver act as wingman to the number 1.

Seb may believe he can do it all on his own. His ego will insist it is possible. But he is wrong.

At some stage over the season, probably several times, there will be a McLaren / Ferrari / Lotus with a strategy to beat him. Seb will need a team effort in terms of race strategy and including Webber, to overcome these threats.

But now he is on his own.

Webber will take a couple of races from him. McLaren / Ferrari / Lotus will push him down the podium and steal race wins. Webber won't help him.

Silly boy.