Thursday April 2, 2009
Vettel out to put costly mistake in Melbourne behind him
SEBASTIAN Vettel is looking to put the mistake that cost him a podium place in last weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix behind him when the Red Bull driver takes his place on the grid on Sunday for the Malaysian GP in Sepang.
Vettel was in second place with less than three laps remaining at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne when he pulled wide on a corner, and as Robert Kubica of BMW-Sauber tried to capitalise from the mistake, the German crashed into him.
Both drivers were unable to continue and Vettel was demoted 10 places on the grid for the race in Sepang while his team were fined US$50,000 by race stewards for causing the collision.
“The accident was certainly a disappointment but there is not point in crying too long over spilt milk,” said Vettel.
“What’s important for me is that I feel the whole team is standing behind me.
“Everyone patted me on the shoulder despite the accident.”
Even though he held to be at fault for the crash in Australia, Vettel feels the punishment meted out by the race commissioners is extreme.
“I don’t think being put back 10 places on the starting grid in Malaysia is justified,” said the 21-year-old German.
“Neither Robert nor myself wanted to end the race that way, you can’t pile the blame on one person.”
Despite the ruling, Vettel appears to have put the incident quickly behind him.
“We showed that the Red Bull performance is up there, not only my performance but that of the entire team.
“We can build on this,” he said.
Vettel feels it’s “too early to say” what Red Bull can achieve this season and the team’s true level compared to Australian GP winner Jenson Button of Brawn GP will only become apparent after races on different circuits.
“However, I noticed at times in Melbourne that I was able to keep pace (with Button),” he revealed.
Vettel became the youngest race winner in F1 history last year when he won the Italian GP in Monza in a Toro Rosso. — dpa
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