Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel admitted that he does not know what happened in the Singapore Grand Prix Formula 1 start crash involving both Scuderia Ferrari cars, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso. Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen came together on the run away from the grid on the Marina Bay Street Circuit , with Kimi’s car then collecting Verstappen and Alonso’s McLaren at Turn 1.
While the three leaders were out on the spot, the Spanish driver tried to continue after the resulting safety car, but his McLaren was too damaged and he had to retire. Sebastian Vettel, who was on the outside and moved over to cover the inside line as Verstappen and Raikkonen approached on his left, said it was not clear what had happened: “I don’t know, I didn’t see that much,” – Sebastian Vettel told TV crews when asked to describe the accident – “I had an average start and then went to the left trying to fend off Max and the next thing I get a bump on the side and see Kimi’s car. That’s how this business is, and we will move on. It doesn’t change much.” – the four-time Formula One driver explained.
After the collision, Raikkonen’s car was spun across the front of Verstappen and swiped into the side of Vettel’s car. Sebastian made it through the first corner without getting collected by the other cars involved, but he then crashed out of the lead when he spun on the run out of Turn 3: “I think there was damage on the car already. The cooler was broken and massively bent so we lost all water pressure. Not ideal, is it. We’re not in the race and that’s a pity, we can’t show the pace we have. It’s a long race but we are on the wrong side of the track so that doesn’t help. There’s nothing we can do now. But I am sure there’ll be more opportunities.” – the German driver concluded.
The FIA stewards announced that the startline incident was under investigation, and it was decided that the matter will be looked at following the grand prix.
