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The Italian press has slammed Sebastian Vettel for throwing away the win at Hockenheim.
The German driver was on the way to victory at his home circuit before sliding his Ferrari into the barrier in slippery conditions.
"That was a dark moment in his career," said 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg.
"He had a home win and the chance to extend his championship lead on Hamilton, and he threw it all away."
The passionate Italian media was just as hard on Vettel.
"His mistake is devastating and could be why Ferrari loses the world championship," La Gazzetta dello Sport declared.
La Stampa added: "The German has made at least four mistakes in eleven races.
"The talent of the world champion is not questioned, but his exaggerated zest is hurting Ferrari's season."
Corriere della Sera praised Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton's "masterpiece of assertiveness and concentration" in racing from the back to win and re-take the title lead.
"The behaviour of the two star drivers makes the difference," it added.
However, Vettel was defended from a surprising quarter, with Max Verstappen saying the German's mistake "could have happened to any of us" in the conditions.
"I don't need pity," Vettel declared. "It was my fault.
"When everything goes well you are cheered, and if you make mistakes you are criticised. So I don't care much about what people say. I have to be at peace with myself."
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (6)
Login to replyf1ski
Posts: 726
Lets spread the blame. The team knows how he can be in those tense moments where he feels he is being held up. He let kimi fish ahead before here they should have let him by sooner before the anxiety escalated. They should also remind him to be conservative. I myself a Vettel fan and a Hamilton hater feel that Vettel has lost his edge or control of his aggression which I feel may prevent him from ever winning another championship
Twiinzspeed
Posts: 18
As a life long Tifosi, i too am frustrated with Vettel. He is a huge talent, but he seems to let his emotions get the better of him more than you would think for a 4x champion. I hope he can bounce back. this year is reminding me of 2008, when Massa and Hamilton seemed to trade mistakes all year while fighting for the Title. I hope for a driver change in 19'. LeClerc or Danny Ric would be great. Longer term, I think either of those guys would give Vettel a run for top dog within the Scuderia.
f1ski
Posts: 726
he didn't do well when Ricciardo broke out the season RBR struggled. Leclerc could unnerve him
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I actually except for a couple of brilliant years Sebastian has always been this way. Yes, he manages races brilliantly at the front with the fastest car, on normal conditions. But throw in rain, close racing, some adversity.. I'd say on average that you get more mistakes from Sebastian than from other top drivers. Not to diminish his accomplishments because after all he's a 4x WDC and that's not pure luck. However, he really hasn't won against championships against real opposition. Mark Webber was great, but no match in speed for Sebastian. 2010 should have been won long before the last race... but Sebastian threw away several points. Later on those years with Alonso fighting to the last race... that was absolute brilliance, but from Alonso, whose car didn't belong fighting for championships.
I still think that Sebastian was driving as well as ever in 2017 until Baku. After that it was checkered. Also it didn't help that Hamilton was brilliants after the summer break. A chance for Leclerc or Danny Ric? I would have loved that. But Ferrari is by far the most risk averse team when it comes to drivers. They don't gamble.
blade
Posts: 341
Finding myself agreeing with many comments here - Vettel will make more mistakes than most drivers (except of course 'Crashtappen') and maybe Magnussen - which means he has to be in the best car to win overall. He's had that privilege and to be fair done great. I like the guy, but I would back him in a penalty shootout, when the pressure's on - he cracks first. In a season that depends on smallest of gaps, small errors make for big issues - the pressure at Ferrari must be great right now and he is only human, he will be feeling it - you saw how he reacted to binning it - he know's this error has once again put the whole team on the back foot - not the first time. However, like Max, its a case of the team also needing to step up and adapt to ensure they handle this weakness, manage it - Vettel will def be contending for titles in next 2/3 years, he's good enough, but not consistently good enough, that's all.
wongrayw
Posts: 17
ask someone to teach vettel how to drive in wet, he is very poor according to the past records