Vettel irritated: 'Why are you guys looking so forward to a crash?'

F1 News

19 May 2021 at 18:26
Last update 19 May 2021 at 19:57
  • GPblog.com

With the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen being fought on the edge, it is only a matter of time until the two crash. In several Grands Prix this year, the on-track duel has often narrowly missed its conclusion, making for some great images. But with things getting so heated, the question of crashes is becoming more and more common. Something which irritates Sebastian Vettel a bit.

No one wants to crash on purpose

Vettel reacts in the press conference to the questions and remarks about a potential crash between Hamilton and Verstappen. Quoted by Express.co.uk the four-time champion says: "One thing that you don't see, people outside, I think journalists don't seem to understand how close it is sometimes and how easily things can go wrong. Without having any intention, I think, nobody goes into an overtake, nobody wants to take the other car out or himself out, because the risk of getting it wrong is just so high."

"But, then, you want to get past sometimes or defend your position, and then you're playing with very little margins. And it's taking so little to get it wrong. But, so far, they've done really well. I think it shows the class that they both have," the German was referring to the duels of the two drivers who lead the championship in places one and two.

Wrong approach

In Vettel's view, people have the wrong approach, as the crash should not be the starting point but rather the racing that is so intense. The German concludes: "So I don't know, I don't see why you're so excited to wait for a crash, I think you should be so excited that they managed to race that closely and intensely without crashing. I think that's the skill, not crashing."

Of course, Vettel understands that it's interesting to see parts flying around, but that's not what it's about he adds. It's about driving to the limit and perfecting that. Something Hamilton and Verstappen have mastered.