USebastian Vettel left the Ferrari Question Time patiently about his next Formula 1 flop. The cracks in the already strained relationship between the four-time world champion, who was retired at the end of the year, and the limp Scuderia are getting deeper and deeper. Vettel is now openly poisoning against Ferrari and probably only recognizes an exit from the growing crisis of confidence in fatalism. “I don’t think it can get much worse from where I am,” said the 33-year-old resignedly and ran away after the last question at the Ferrari consultation hour on Sunday evening.
Vettel left his stable rival Charles Leclerc and team boss Mattia Binotto on the provisional podium after another frustrating drive at Silverstone. And after the experiences in this already bad season for the Italians, one can no longer rule out that Vettel could not go further downhill after all.
The Hessian is already in his worst Formula 1 season since his first full year with Toro Rosso in 2008. Vettel is even more and more distancing himself from his former dream racing team and sometimes reacts with icy silence to announcements from the command post. During the fiasco with twelfth place in England after an early pit stop and subsequent traffic jam, he poisoned: “You know that you screwed up.”
In Italy, the “Gazzetta dello Sport” commented annoyed by Vettel and with their belief in the national shrine Ferrari, which is difficult to shake: “The Dreher Festival continues, this year we’re already at two. But instead of the German admitting his guilt, he blames the machine and the strategy. It’s time to put on a new record. “
The angry hag has long been publicly entering the confrontation. Ferrari only decided on the tire strategy, which was worth discussing, after the Heppenheimer had already spun on the first lap because of a suspected blow to his car and was thrown back to the end of the field. The Scuderia then put their hopes for points on Leclerc, the Monegasse was even fourth in the end.
Binotto therefore did not want to know about the wrong tactics. “He damaged his race at the start, that was the key, not our strategy,” said the Swiss. In their press release, the Italians then headlined: “Charles, fourth, because of strategy and skill.” There was not a line on Vettel on the letterhead.
What do you do when the divorce has long been filed, but you have to endure it for a few more months due to contractual agreements? In the Ferrari-Vettel case, one tries to make a bit of a good face about the joyless game. The separation at the end of the year should then, not least for Vettel, who will continue to be a hot candidate for a cockpit for the future Aston Martin factory team in 2021, act like a relief. “I don’t think Sebastian has lost his faith,” said Binotto and, like a grandfather, pushed after him: “He’s just going through a difficult phase.”
That is of course an understatement for a top driver who, in addition to four world championship titles with Red Bull, has also won a total of 53 grands prix in his career. “At the moment I certainly don’t have the best run, but I trust the team around me and everyone in the garage,” Vettel said mildly at the question time, but no longer really convincing. He is very open to the next race. It doesn’t sound like it could get any better in Barcelona this weekend.
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