Scuderia Fans

  • News
  • Current Drivers
    • Charles Leclerc
    • Lewis Hamilton
  • Races
    • 2025 F1 Spanish Grand Prix
    • 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix
    • 2025 F1 Austrian Grand Prix
    • 2025 F1 British Grand Prix
    • 2025 F1 Belgian Grand Prix
    • 2025 F1 Dutch Grand Prix
    • 2025 F1 Italian Grand Prix
  • Ferrari Champions
    • Michael Schumacher
    • Kimi Raikkonen
    • Niki Lauda
    • Jody Scheckter
    • John Surtees
    • Phil Hill
    • Mike Hawthorn
    • Juan-Manuel Fangio
    • Alberto Ascari
  • Former Ferrari drivers
    • Sebastian Vettel
    • Felipe Massa
    • Fernando Alonso
    • Gilles Villeneuve
    • Jean Alesi
    • Alain Prost
    • Nigel Mansell
    • Gerhard Berger
    • Mario Andretti
    • Rubens Barrichello
    • Michele Alboreto
    • Patrick Tambay
    • Eddie Irvine
    • Rene Arnoux
    • Didier Pironi
    • Jacky Ickx
    • Carlos Reutemann
    • Clay Regazzoni
    • Stefan Johansson
    • Arturo Merzario
    • Giancarlo Fisichella
    • Carlos Sainz
  • Memorable moments
  • F1 Travel Guides
    • 2024 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix Tickets
    • 2024 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Tickets
    • 2024 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Tickets
  • F1 TICKETS
  • Advertise
  • Shop now!
  • Home
  • Formula 1 Schedule & Results
  • Formula 1 Driver Standings
  • Formula 1 Constructor Standings
  • Contact us
Home » Sebastian Vettel blames Verstappen for Japanese GP crash: “The gap was there”

Sebastian Vettel blames Verstappen for Japanese GP crash: “The gap was there”. Seb jumped from eighth on the grid to fourth at the end of the opening lap.

Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel put the blame at the feet of Max Verstappen after a collision sent him into a spin that all but ends the Ferrari man’s hopes of beating Lewis Hamilton to the world title. Seb clattered into Verstappen while trying to dive down the inside at the early safety car restart of the Japanese Grand Prix, with Hamilton going on to win.

The German driver jumped from eighth on the grid to fourth at the end of the opening lap – which concluded under safety car conditions – but the restart would ultimately be ruinous for the Ferrari. Verstappen had already earned a five-second penalty for a collision with Kimi Raikkonen, but Vettel dismissed the notion he should have waited to get past Verstappen as he served his penalty.

“I was obviously pushing to get past but I wasn’t desperate to get past,” Vettel told Sky Sports – “I knew he had a penalty but I also felt we were faster and then he was clipping on the straight with the battery and I was catching – obviously the Safety Car helped to be closer and then the gap was there. As soon as he saw me, he obviously defended but I had the inside and as soon as he realised someone’s close or next to him he tries to – in my opinion – push when you shouldn’t push any more. Look at Kimi – he’s off the track and comes back and if Kimi just drives on, they collide. It’s not always right that the other guy has to move. I think we’re all racing, the race is long. For me, the gap was there – otherwise I don’t do it. I got through the whole field without any trouble, sometimes closer, sometimes with more margin, but it’s normal that sometimes it gets close. But if you don’t leave a space… and in that case I couldn’t go anywhere and… yeah, then we touched.” – he added.

Asked if he had considered a more cautious approach, Vettel snapped back: “Do you ask him whether he should think twice when he defends? In the end, we’re all racing so this is part of racing, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t regret the move. Obviously with that outcome, you would do different because, with hindsight it’s always easy. But as I said inside the car: the gap was there, his battery was clipping, I was boosting, I saved my battery, I had more speed. I would make the corner, I was side by side and then he didn’t give enough room and then we touched.”

Oct 7, 2018Scuderia Fans
Let other Scuderia Fans know about us
fb-share-icon
Tweet
Pin Share
2018 Japanese GP Race report: Kimi P5, Sebastian P6Felipe Massa: "Vettel is more to blame than Ferrari for the missed opportunity in 2018"

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Scuderia Fans
6 years ago 2018 Japanese Grand Prix, News, RacesJapanese GP, Sebastian Vettel838
Gear up with Ferrari merchandise!
#KeepFightingMichael

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F1

2025 Formula 1 calendar

2025 Formula 1 calendar

Latest articles

  • Ferrari insiders worry Lewis Hamilton is being held back by two limiting factors he can’t yet conquer
  • Ferrari gets Lewis Hamilton to take on a Formula 1 aspect he’s historically disliked
  • Charles Leclerc’s reluctance to heed Fred Vasseur’s instructions raises concerns at Ferrari
  • Ferrari identifies major race-day weakness that could persist despite upcoming SF-25 upgrades
  • Guenther Steiner believes Lewis Hamilton stands alone as the only driver bigger than his own team
<
Partners
non-GamStop casinos

best online casinos not on GamStop

GP-News - latest F1 news updates

kasyno internetowe

The most accurate sports predictions and latest news available on TipsGG

1Win

live dealer casinos not blocked by GamStop

>games not on gamstop

Football Betting Not on GamStop

non gamstop casino

Sports betting without GamStop

Migliori Casinò Non AAMS

UK Bookmakers Not on GamStop

BetZillion's list of the best motor racing betting sites

non Gamstop betting sites

オンラインカジノ マスターカード

Personal Injury Lawyer in Abilene Texas

Formula 1 Standings

Formula 1 News

Guitar Junky

Best Intraday Tips

Contact Center Company

SilverArrows.Net - Mercedes F1 news

TopSpeed

Esports Forum

Racing Statistics

Fixture Calendar

Live F1 Results

Contribute

Get In Touch With Us
  • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
Categories

Meet the team

About us

Our writers

Archives
Let other Scuderia Fans know about us!
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
YOUTUBE
INSTAGRAM

© 2016 Scuderia Fans Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Scuderia Fans Ltd, 199 Republicii Street, 5A
Ploiesti, Romania, 100392

Want to experience the thrill of online gaming as if you were on the field? If so, a no deposit bonus is a great opportunity. Visit https://kasynoonlineautomaty.pl and find the best offer. As part of this promotion, players receive free funds or free spins that they can use in casino games without investing their own money.

2024 © Scuderia Fans