Vettel protective over team after more Ferrari problems at Suzuka
Sebastian Vettel has rebuked talk that his challenge for this year’s Formula 1 World Championship is definitively over after another troubled weekend in Suzuka.
Vettel was forced to retire his Ferrari when it suffered a spark plug failure that left his car running on just five of its six cylinders during the opening laps. Vettel plummeted down the order, having started second, before eventually retiring to save the engine.
The result means that Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is now firmly in control of the title fight, holding a 59-point lead. The Briton can secure his fourth world title at the next round in Austin, if Vettel finishes sixth or lower.
“Of course it hurts,” said the German. “But we just need to regroup and get on with it.
“It’s normal that you’re critical [of the team], especially if things go wrong, so it’s part of our job. But I think I need to protect them [Ferrari]. We’ve done an incredible job so far. The last two races are obviously a pity with the reliability, but you know, it’s like that sometimes. But now we need to get back, get some rest and then go flatout for the last four races and see what happens as the championship isn’t decided yet.”
Vettel is now just one reprimand away from a grid penalty after he got a ticking off for missing the national anthem before the race in Japan. Vettel stayed with his engineers as they worked on his car before the race start, instead of lining up to respect the anthem. He was given a reprimand for the actions, adding to the driving infringement he got for crossing the pit lane exit line in qualifying at Monaco. Regulations say any driver with three reprimands must serve a 10-place grid penalty.