Having had time to think about it, four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel has now moved to defuse the building rivalry with Red Bull Racing’s Daniil Kvyat.
Vettel had spent most of Sunday apologising to the Ferrari team and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen for an incident on the first corner.
Kimi made a mistake going into the long right hander which left him outwide, Vettel was on the inside of him but wasn’t hugging the curb.
Kvyat saw this opening and took advantage at great speed, he didn’t hit anyone and made the corner so from his point of view he did nothing wrong.
Vettel on the other hand, knowing full well that Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne was sitting in the garage watching, collided with his team-mate ruining both of their races.
Whilst Vettel recovered to finish second despite requiring a replacement front wing, Kimi finished fifth.
Throughout the race Vettel laid the blame on Kvyat over team radio calling the move ‘suicidal’ and Vettel couldn’t wait to have his say with Kvyat which led to an entertaining exchange in the drivers room before the champagne was sprayed on the podium.
But, probably with the benefit of hindsight after watching a replay, Vettel has now called it a racing incident.
‘What happened on the first lap, in the end, is a racing incident, Kimi locked up in Turn 1. I tried to go inside to pass him. Daniil was behind me. He had a better start and was lining up for the same move initially. I was determined to overtake Kimi. Daniil was determined to overtake me. Vettel told formula1.com.
‘Kimi came back from the left, Kvyat came from the back right and I was reacting to him. From my side I didn’t really know where to go, I was sandwiched between Kimi and Daniil.
‘I tried to back out of it, going off throttle and hitting the brakes, but there was no way, so I had contact with Kimi.
‘Obviously I am terribly sorry for what has happened. Touching the car with the same colours is not right.’
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