• Turkish Grand Prix

Vettel insists he was not to blame for collision

ESPNF1 Staff
May 30, 2010 « Barrichello and di Grassi unhappy with Cosworth engine | »

As the race continued behind him, Sebastian Vettel insisted he was not to blame for the collision with team-mate Mark Webber that put him out of the Turkish Grand Prix and cost Red Bull a probable second straight 1-2.

Webber led on the 41st of 58 laps when Vettel pulled level with him approaching turn 12. The pair made contact and both left the track. While Webber was able to keep going and, after a pit stop, return to finish third, Vettel was forced to retire with damage to his rear wheel. It allowed Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who were just behind the Red Bulls at the time of the collision, to take first and second.

"Obviously, I think if you look at the pictures it was clear I had the inside," said Vettel. "I went on the inside, I was ahead and just going down to focus on the braking point and honestly, you can see we touched and he touched my right rear wheel and I went off."

Asked if the incident was a result of pressure between the pair, he said: "There is no fight. This is something that happens. We do not need it but there is nothing we can do now. Obviously I am not very happy, I was inside focusing on the braking point, we touched and that was it.

"I was a bit quicker than Mark, I was getting closer and I knew I could maybe get him on the back straight. It was close, I passed him on the left and that was the story."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close