Vettel has no interest in imposing team orders
- Published on 07 Sep 2018 10:54
-
- By: Fergal Walsh
Sebastian Vettel says he is happy to fight teammate Kimi Raikkonen until the end of the year and isn't interested in using team orders to win the title. Vettel is going head-to-head with rival Lewis Hamilton for the 2018 world championship, as they did one year ago.
The pair clashed on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, which caused Vettel to spin around and join the back of the field. As he recovered his way to finish in fourth place, Hamilton and Raikkonen had a closely fought battle for the lead, in which the Briton came out on top.
Raikkonen hasn't won a race this season (nor has he since he re-joined Ferrari in 2014), but the Finn grabbed pole position on Saturday for the race at Monza, ahead of Vettel. With Mercedes indicating that it will use team orders to aid Hamilton, Vettel says that he doesn't see a need for them at Ferrari.
“Obviously I can see the questions coming up, but for me it's pretty clear: I'm happy to fight three cars, I'm happy to actually fight 19 cars,” he said. "I think I've never been in a different position to that. That's fine. I don't expect anything else."
Speaking about his clash with Hamilton on lap 1, the German added: "I think we are old enough and we don't need to go through the start. I'm doing my job and I'm prepared to race everybody.
"I was trying to use my chances in the first corner, a little bit in the second chicane, but it didn't work. Then it was a bit unfortunate with how things turned out. Everybody's free to have whatever approach they want. But for us, it's pretty clear and straightforward."
4
Replies (5)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Come on... I can easily think of at least 5 instances when Kimi was deprived of wins and podiums to help Sebastián. Team orders are in place. Everyone knows that's how Ferrari operates.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
And sadly the same apply for Bottas and Mercedes.
blade
Posts: 341
The difference being Bottas shows little sign of beating Hamilton in a race. Mercy are doing it right and Bottas needs to win races in order to cement his own right for team orders to benefit him. Team orders now are inevitable, merc is the slower car to Ferrari and orders represent the best way of optimising points for rest of the season, for the constructor and also to ensure the drivers title ends up in the merc factory. Sensible.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
They are already there...
However, so frustrating that kimi couldn't win last race.
blade
Posts: 341
Agree, think he burned his tyres with some mega quick laps. I can’t believe Ferrari are considering letting him go...he’s class and clearly is fast enough to warrant a ride???