Vettel: Important to own up to Verstappen crash "misjudgment"
Sebastian Vettel says his crash with Max Verstappen in the British Grand Prix was prompted by a "misjudgment" in him thinking he could "sneak back" past the Dutchman after being overtaken.
The two drivers were locked in an exciting battle for third place on lap 37, when Verstappen was able to make a move around the outside of Stowe corner to take the final podium spot.
But after the Red Bull driver lose some momentum on the exit, Vettel thought there was a chance to regain the position – and got dragged in when he thought the door had been left open for the following corner.
Once he realised there was nowhere to go, he tried to brake to avoid hitting Verstappen but it was too late and he slid in to the back of the Red Bull car.
“Obviously I got passed on the way to Stowe and he ran a bit wide, so I was able to get a better exit out of 15,” explained Vettel. “Then from my point of view it looked like he was giving a bit of room on the inside, so I wanted to go for that.
“But by the time I went that gap closed again and then it was too late. I tried to go back to the right – but it was too late to avoid him and the crash.”
Asked whether he felt the incident was caused by a misunderstanding, Vettel said: “In the end it's my mistake.
“I also spoke with Max afterwards, but obviously he was a bit faster and closing quite quickly and passed very easily before Turn 15. But then ran a bit wide, so I thought I could sneak back.
"But as I said I thought there was a gap that then turned out to not be there. It's a misjudgement from my side.”
Vettel was handed a 10-second time penalty, as well as two points on his licence, for his part in the crash. He ended up finishing in 16th, having required an extra stop for a new nose, while Verstappen recovered to finish fifth.
In parc ferme afterwards, Vettel immediately apologised to Verstappen for his error, an action he thought was more important than any penalty he got for what he did.
“Of course initially I thought that there was a gap and the gap closed, but after some laps I realised that it was my mistake,” he added. “So I went to Max and told him what I thought. That to me counts more than anything or any stewards decision, to be honest.”
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 after running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 after running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 after running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 after running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 after running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 after running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 after running into the back of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Hasan Bratic / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 pit stop for front wing change after contact with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 pit stop for front wing change after contact with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 pit stop for front wing change after contact with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Previous article
Mercedes wary of 'unconscious favouritism' via split strategies
Next article
Steiner: Grosjean/Magnussen clash "not acceptable"

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Event | British GP |
Sub-event | Race |
Drivers | Sebastian Vettel , Max Verstappen |
Teams | Red Bull Racing , Scuderia Ferrari |
Author | Jonathan Noble |
Vettel: Important to own up to Verstappen crash "misjudgment"
Trending
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.