Vettel: “I was sleeping” at restart
Sebastian Vettel was unhappy with the drive-through penalty that cost him a likely win in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
He was hit with a penalty for failing to stay close enough to the leader Mark Webber as the race restarted.
Vettel admitted in the press conference he hadn’t been ready for the restart:
It was a very easy race because we had a pace advantage. At the restart I was sleeping and I was probably relying too much on the radio. In the first stint I lost the radio and didn’t hear anything. I was waiting for an instruction when the first car was coming in.
Also Mark, when the safety car is coming in the leader usually drops back, but he was very close.
Then when I saw Mark and the safety car very close to each other and the safety car was going into the pits I realised what was going on.
I am very disappointed because it would have been a walk in the park today.
Sebastian Vettel
He gestured angrily with his hands when he came in to serve the drive-through penalty during the race. He said afterwards he didn’t understand why he’d been given the penalty:
I didn’t understand what was going on and why I’d been penalised. So it was a question mark for me, I didn’t understand at the time.
Sebastian Vettel
Vettel ended the race in third place.
2010 Hungarian Grand Prix
- Technical review: German and Hungarian Grands Prix
- From the stands: Nikolai Vogler watches two races in one week
- Ecclestone asks Hungarian President “Was your crown made in China?”
- Michael defends Barrichello strategy
- How F1 can make pit stops safer
- 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix – the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
- A move too far: Schumacher forces stewards to take a stand
- Who was the best driver of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend?
- Red Bull mark 100th F1 start with win (Hungarian Grand Prix facts and stats)
- Red Bull fly to victory but FIA set to clip their wings (Red Bull race review)
Image (C) Red Bull/Getty images
Slim said on 1st August 2010, 15:22
its funny how many pole positions this kid has botched
luigismen (@luigismen) said on 1st August 2010, 15:27
It reminds me of Montoya back in ’02
bosyber said on 1st August 2010, 15:24
I’ll see that as showing his inexperience and youth. I guess we can’t really fault him more than Hamilton when he is having trouble when the pits isn’t clear or smart (as shown in China). He does need to stop that and realize that he is racing there – similarly to dropping back to take the fastest lap, instead of trying to put pressure on Alonso.
Webber definitely looks to be the more complete driver of the two this season.
dragon said on 1st August 2010, 15:25
This is one of the few I felt sorry for him though, because he was untouchable for most of the weekend. Still, I just have to remember Turkey for the guilt to vanish!
Cyclops said on 1st August 2010, 15:25
Shouldn’t he get another penalty for crossing the line while pitting?
choiMatthew said on 1st August 2010, 15:31
i guess that only applies when he’s exiting the pitlane
MouseNightshirt said on 1st August 2010, 16:02
Aye, as far as I know, there’s no rule for entering the pit, just exiting.
US_Peter said on 1st August 2010, 20:28
Yeah, look at how Alonso pitted in China cutting off Massa, no penalty there.
RFB said on 1st August 2010, 17:56
Whether you can cross the white line at the pit entry, as well as other similar details, is notified to the team managers during a meeting at the beginning of the race weekend.
Maciek said on 1st August 2010, 19:19
I was wondering the same thing, just like after the race where Alonso jumped in front of Massa at the last second – are there clear rules for pit lane entry? And if not, shouldn’t there be?
ap said on 1st August 2010, 15:25
LOL he got to control all that finger pointing, and arm waving…
What a tool.
Damon said on 1st August 2010, 15:29
Keith: “I didn’t under what was going on and why I’d been penalised.”
know* ?
Ace said on 1st August 2010, 15:29
Are we sure it was the restart where vettel broke the 10 car gap rule? The replay on the telecast showed vetted falling behind webber along the pit straight (still under safety car, before the restart). Maybe it happened more than once?
rok said on 1st August 2010, 15:39
That is correct. So hes got only himself to blame.
flatbeat said on 1st August 2010, 15:31
mad day, webber wins again, gee atherton wins qually in DH world cup.
Eric said on 1st August 2010, 15:34
great place to have a sleep. LOL
when watching Mark Webbers in car camera doing those fast laps after the safety car, man that car was sooo smooth in an out of the corners, no twitching it hung in there and responded to Marks every move, what a awesome car.
PepsiPerfect said on 1st August 2010, 15:41
Vettel should be given a penalty.
He gestured angrily with his hands when he came in to serve the drive-through penalty during the race.
He was not in FULL control of the car, he had removed his hands. This should be penalized, IMPROPER driving.
TommyB (@tommyb89) said on 1st August 2010, 15:46
Drivers always stick there hands out the cars. They drive with no hands to operate the F duct so in the pitlane at cruising speed I don’t see how it’s a problem.
Toby Bushby said on 1st August 2010, 15:56
Because there are people near who AREN’T behind barriers…..
fordsrule said on 2nd August 2010, 5:07
The drivers do it after the race, when the marshalls are on the track waving the flags…
Steph90 (@steph90) said on 1st August 2010, 15:43
Even if he was asleep he should have woken up. He should have won or could have won but he chucked it away for whatever reason. he’s right to be annoyed but at himself not the penalty.
I’m not Seb’s biggest fan and I think he’s wrong to be having a go when it was his own fault but at least he seems human and a bit less PR which is rare with drivers.
TommyB (@tommyb89) said on 1st August 2010, 15:53
People want emotion from drivers. I’ve heard people saying they are sick of robots saying “I’d like to thank the team and sponsors for everything.”
Everyone wants to win the title. Seb wants it so bad so surely you can understand when he finishes 3rd (when it was a clear victory for him) he’s not smiling and all happy.
Same with Alonso in Valencia and Silverstone. They want to win, I want to see drivers wanting to win, not settle and be happy with a result that’s not what they should have got.
Steph90 (@steph90) said on 1st August 2010, 16:05
I agree full heartedly. I like a bit of moaning. However, Seb only has himself to blame in this case I feel.
gabal said on 1st August 2010, 16:44
I agree it is better to have drivers with emotions (although I think F1 lost with the departure of Kimi) but in this case Vettell has only himself to blame.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 2nd August 2010, 8:07
I agree it’s nice Vettel tells what’s on his heart here. This one’s up there with Kimi “getting bored” in the car.
Well Seb, most of us were getting just as bored as you seeing you going around miles in front of everyone else.
Sorry you fell asleep during the SC, but you saved the race for a lot of the viewers, so thank you for that.
Franton said on 1st August 2010, 15:47
Bleh, he just ruined his reputation with me. Sulking on the podium, angry gestures aimed at the stewards … he needs to go away and grow up.
justhinking said on 1st August 2010, 16:12
Franton – Right you are !!
KlBD said on 1st August 2010, 19:22
Maybe experiences like this are just what the doctor ordered on that front..for example I think the trials and tribulations McLaren faced in 09 ended up producing a much more mature Hamilton (though he’s still got some rough edges, i.e. yelling at the crew in Australia), but misfortunes can be pretty good learning experiences in racing :)
fordsrule said on 2nd August 2010, 5:06
So Massa’s repututaion with you is ruined as well?
GWBridge said on 1st August 2010, 15:50
Some weeks ago, someone made the comment that Vettel was fast when he was alone in clear air, but that he couldn’t overtake. What I have seen since convinces me that this is true. Yes, I know the Ferrari was faster down the straights, but there’s definitely a pattern here. And he needs to understand that all of the rules, even the most elementary ones, apply to everyone, no matter how special you are.
GWBridge said on 1st August 2010, 15:52
Webber vs Schumacher vs Vettel. What a contrast in personal character and sportsmanship.
TommyB (@tommyb89) said on 1st August 2010, 16:01
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buArrMpQgGo
Webber is the new Princess Diana of F1. People seem to forget what he’s done in the past and he’s had his fair share of moaning this year.
Patrickl said on 1st August 2010, 16:13
Did Webber get a penalty for that? What does that tell you?
TommyB (@tommyb89) said on 1st August 2010, 16:26
It tells you everyone does it but it’s only remembered when Schumacher does it.
TommyB (@tommyb89) said on 1st August 2010, 16:27
And Webber can do no wrong
Journeyer (@journeyer) said on 1st August 2010, 17:31
To be fair, that was a pure racing incident. No way you could say that he was trying to take the other guy out, which was arguable in Schumacher’s case (although I don’t believe that was his intention, either).
Patrickl said on 1st August 2010, 18:00
Indeed, what Journeyer said.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 2nd August 2010, 8:09
I didn’t see anything out of the order. He saw Kimi behind him and closed the door.
Probably didn’t even notice Kimi’s front wing was crushed by his wheels.
zeke said on 1st August 2010, 15:59
The Boy Blunder strikes again and talk about sour faced about it ,what a brat.