Two weeks after the first lap incident in China between the Ferrari drivers that Sebastian Vettel blamed on Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat, the German now feels that the clash was more like a racing incident.
Kvyat made a move to pass Vettel at turn one, with the German appearing to take avoiding action to avoid the Russian, only to hit his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, but Vettel now feels that things like this happen in Formula 1.
“We are racing,” said Vettel. “In the end it was a racing incident. It was probably the best outcome for him because he made up the places and didn’t have a problem with the car.
“For myself and Kimi it was not that great but these things happen.”
Vettel is surprised that what happened two weeks ago is still being talked about in paddock, but insists that should the same situation arise again, he would still do things the same way, even if he didn’t know his outburst as he condemned Kvyat was broadcast on television.
“Honestly, I’m surprised that two weeks after it’s still a topic,” added Vettel. “Everything that needed to be said has been said. I didn’t know that it was on camera but it doesn’t change anything, I would say the same again.
“After the race you are a bit hot and emotions are pumping but equally that’s what we want so why should I sit here now and say maybe I should have been a little more quiet?
“We are racing and you also say things sometimes that afterwards you wouldn’t say exactly the same but in that situation I said it the way I said it. I don’t think I said anything bad, I get along with him really well.”
