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Vettel raced with damaged car in Spain and Monaco

ESPNF1 Staff
May 20, 2010 « Early championship lead isn't everything - Button | »
Sebastian Vettel struggled to match Mark Webber in Monaco © Getty Images
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Red Bull has found damage to Sebastian Vettel's chassis which goes some way to explaining his recent struggle to keep up with team-mate Mark Webber.

Webber took commanding victories at the last two grands prix from pole while Vettel qualified and finished both races behind him. According to Germany's Auto Bild Motorsport, after returning to Milton Keynes from the Barcelona/Monaco double header, Red Bull has identified damage to Vettel's chassis.

"We have found a defect in Sebastian's chassis," team principal Christian Horner confirmed. "For the next race in Turkey, he will have a new chassis."

Vettel, initially the stronger of Red Bull's driver lineup this year, is now equal on points with Webber at the top of the 2010 standings. Horner added that he is confident Vettel will rediscover the form he had at the start of the season in coming races.

"Sebastian began the season in great shape and I am sure he will bounce back at the next race," he said. "In Barcelona and Monaco, Mark was simply stronger, he had more confidence and felt more comfortable in the car. In contrast, Sebastian complained several times about the balance of the car."

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