Sebastian Vettel rued exiting the pits behind the Williams of Felipe Massa that he believed cost him a shot at a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Scuderia Ferrari driver had made the early call to switch from the full wet to the intermediate tyre, but came out just behind Massa, who had not stopped to do the same, and was unable to pass the Brazilian as he opted for a longer first stint.
The delay behind Massa cost him track position and time to Sergio Perez, with Vettel unable to get close enough to the Force India driver to attempt to pass the Mexican, with the German being forced to settle for fourth.
“It was a difficult race, I think I could have done better when I stopped and I came out behind Felipe,” said Vettel. “We made the right strategy call but then I should have found the way to get past, I think I lost the podium there.
“When I was behind him I was in the Intermediates tires, it was very slippery, very easy to get it wrong, but I feel I should have made it possible.
“Yesterday we didn’t do a good job in not putting the car in the place where we belong, yet I think we were very quick this weekend, the pit-stops were fantastic, a great job from the guys. But the rest is up to me and I apologize because I couldn’t get to the podium.
“I tried everything to close the gap to Perez, and I did come very close a couple of times, I was also lucky not to ‘kiss’ the wall at the end. Now it’s over, so in the end we got good points and after 6 races there’s a lot more to come.”
