• Belgian Grand Prix

Vettel sorry after Button collision

ESPNF1 Staff
August 28, 2010
Sebastian Vettel takes off his helmet at the end of a forgettable afternoon for him © Getty Images
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Jenson Button admitted the crash which ended his Belgian Grand Prix was a "massive blow" adding that he "did not know what he [Sebastian Vettel] was doing". Vettel, whose own race was dogged by a series of mishaps, said he was "sorry" for the collision.

Button was in second place, battling off the Red Bull, when Vettel made a serious error of judgment, lost control and hit the McLaren in the side on lap 16. Although Vettel was able to continue, the damage to Button's car was enough to finish his race.

"I don't know what happened," a clearly disappointed Button told reporters. "All I felt was a big bang in the sidepod. It ripped the radiator out, I think, and I lost drive completely. It was a very strange incident. I don't know what he was doing really. It's a massive blow - a massive blow. It hurts quite a bit really.

"It was looking really good. I had a good start and had a good fight in wet conditions. I was able to find grip better than other people. I had a damaged front wing which meant I had to put maximum front wing angle in the car, which made the rear twitchy but didn't give me any more front really.

"It was tricky to keep them behind, but I was doing a pretty good job. We were going to change the front wing at the stop."

Vettel, who was handed a drive-through penalty by stewards, apologised for the incident. "Obviously, it was not my intention to destroy his race or mine," he said. "A couple of times I was close, but not close enough even though I was faster than him.

"I tried to out-brake him on the outside. When I changed from the inside to the outside, I lost the car under braking on the bump and then I then I couldn't really control it anymore and unfortunately crashed into him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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