Vettel looking back on last year’s mistake “I have to smile”
F1 News
- Bevan Youl
Sebastian Vettel has said ‘I have to smile’ when he looks back on his crash out of the lead at the German Grand Prix last year.
Going into the German Grand Prix last year Vettel was leading the championship ahead of Lewis Hamilton by eight points and looked set to extend it after taking pole and comfortably leading the race.
Up until light rain hit the track and caused a few issues in what tyres to use.
Vettel locked up on lap 52 and crashed his Ferrari into the barriers, losing his advantage in the championship after Hamilton took the win.
But the German insists he has moved on from the incident by now and is looking ahead.
Vettel said to Auto Bild: “I was extremely angry at myself but that’s forgotten now.
“Actually, if I see it today, the way I dug into the gravel and then punched the steering wheel so furiously, I have to smile.
“I made a small mistake with big consequences.”
The German went on to say that Mercedes are the clear favourites for the win yet again and that he himself can’t quite get to grips with his car at the moment.
“You should never say never, and I’ll give everything as always, but realistically Mercedes is the big favourite,” he added.
“I am not feeling the rear of the car at the moment, and for me that means I am missing confidence.”