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Vettel seals controversial Sepang win over Webber
Source: Agencies |
March 25, 2013, Monday
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FORMULA One world champion Sebastian Vettel won a controversial Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday after defying orders to back off and let Red Bull teammate Mark Webber take the checkered flag ahead of him.
The German's 27th victory, from pole and equalling the tally of triple champion Jackie Stewart in the all-time lists, was full of bad blood on an action-packed afternoon that started with a rainstorm and ended in recrimination and dark scowls on the podium.
"This is not a victory that I'm very proud of because it should have been Mark's," the chastened German, who took the lead in the 56-lap race after the team had asked both drivers to turn down the engine and look after the tires, conceded after spraying champagne in muted podium celebrations.
"I'm not entirely happy - I think I did a big mistake," Vettel said afterwards. "We should have stayed in the positions that we were in. I didn't ignore it on purpose but I messed up in that situation and obviously took the lead from Mark.
"I can see now that he's upset. I want to be honest at least and stick to the truth. I know that doesn't really help his feelings right now."
The Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finished third and fourth, crossing the line in close formation 12 seconds behind Vettel after obeying orders from their pitwall to hold station.
Unlike compatriot Vettel, Rosberg did as he was told despite telling the team repeatedly that he was quicker and should be allowed past Hamilton.
"If I'm honest I really feel Nico should be standing here," said Hamilton after his first podium with Mercedes since he moved from McLaren.
Last year's winner Fernando Alonso crashed out on the second lap after he hit the rear of Vettel's Red Bull.
Vettel's first win of the season sent him top of the standings with 40 points to Kimi Raikkonen's 31. Webber is third on 26. Red Bull took the lead in the constructors' championship from Ferrari after two races.
"We told the drivers to maintain position to the end of the race, look after the tires. Sebastian took it into his own hands to (overtake) ... he wanted to win that race," Red Bull principal Christian Horner said.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished fifth with France's Romain Grosjean sixth, outshining his Lotus teammate and last week's winner Finn Raikkonen in seventh. Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez and Jean-Eric Vergne rounded out the top 10 while McLaren's Jenson Button was a late retirement.
The German's 27th victory, from pole and equalling the tally of triple champion Jackie Stewart in the all-time lists, was full of bad blood on an action-packed afternoon that started with a rainstorm and ended in recrimination and dark scowls on the podium.
"This is not a victory that I'm very proud of because it should have been Mark's," the chastened German, who took the lead in the 56-lap race after the team had asked both drivers to turn down the engine and look after the tires, conceded after spraying champagne in muted podium celebrations.
"I'm not entirely happy - I think I did a big mistake," Vettel said afterwards. "We should have stayed in the positions that we were in. I didn't ignore it on purpose but I messed up in that situation and obviously took the lead from Mark.
"I can see now that he's upset. I want to be honest at least and stick to the truth. I know that doesn't really help his feelings right now."
The Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finished third and fourth, crossing the line in close formation 12 seconds behind Vettel after obeying orders from their pitwall to hold station.
Unlike compatriot Vettel, Rosberg did as he was told despite telling the team repeatedly that he was quicker and should be allowed past Hamilton.
"If I'm honest I really feel Nico should be standing here," said Hamilton after his first podium with Mercedes since he moved from McLaren.
Last year's winner Fernando Alonso crashed out on the second lap after he hit the rear of Vettel's Red Bull.
Vettel's first win of the season sent him top of the standings with 40 points to Kimi Raikkonen's 31. Webber is third on 26. Red Bull took the lead in the constructors' championship from Ferrari after two races.
"We told the drivers to maintain position to the end of the race, look after the tires. Sebastian took it into his own hands to (overtake) ... he wanted to win that race," Red Bull principal Christian Horner said.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished fifth with France's Romain Grosjean sixth, outshining his Lotus teammate and last week's winner Finn Raikkonen in seventh. Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez and Jean-Eric Vergne rounded out the top 10 while McLaren's Jenson Button was a late retirement.
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