Sebastian Vettel apologised to race director for outburst

  • Published on 31 Oct 2016 09:15
  • comments 20
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Sebastian Vettel has revealed that he went to FIA race director Charlie Whiting at the earliest opportunity to apologise his outburst during the Mexican Grand Prix.

Amid the debacle over whether Max Verstappen should have handed third place to Vettel after he left the track, Vettel could be heard over the radio saying: "Here's a message to Charlie: f*** off."

Following the race, Vettel, who was promoted to the podium after a penalty was handed to Verstappen, said that he went to see Whiting to apologise for his actions.

"I went immediately to see him [Whiting]," said Vettel. "For sure it's not the right thing to say, but equally, in my defence, adrenalin and emotions are pumping high."

"Out of respect, I went to him and told him what I did," he added.

With regard to his incident with Verstappen's team mate Daniel Ricciardo at turn four, which left the Australian saying that the Ferrari driver didn't deserve to be on the podium, Vettel said he'd rather look at the incident again before commenting.

"I want to look at it again," Vettel said. "I was fighting very hard. I'm supposed to give him just enough room, which I think he had."

"I knew he would go for the gap. In the end we made contact, which is never ideal. Max was brake testing me into the first two corners, I had a very bad exit and was upset that he didn't move," he continued."

"I can only say that I want to look at it again with Daniel. If there was something I will talk to him. We did everything we could to push Max into a mistake that he didn't pay for."

For a four time World Champion, he looks really frustrated. He is a roll modell for that reason and he should be aware of it. He chose this scene to perform in than you should also act like it.
I really hope Vettel will be penalised for his behaviour, it's immature and unapropriate. Max made som... [Read more]

  • 2
  • Oct 31 2016 - 13:44

Replies (20)

Login to reply
  • dr002

    Posts: 141

    I honestly can't believe that no further action has been taken in respect of Vettel's behaviour. I'm all for the team audio and I love the emotion that comes through with the bleeped out bits, but Vettel went too far..... Fair enough he was angry / frustrated and fair enough that he should wanted to let rip at Max, no problem..... but to repeatedly swear directly at the official in charge in such a blatant and disrespectful manner should not be tolerated..... My kids (one a Ferrari fan) were laughing at it, and I was left explaining to them that that kind of behaviour is unacceptable under any circumstances..... also very disappointing that he showed no remorse in the interviews afterwards...... Poor form that Formula 1 and the Sky commentary team found that behaviour acceptable by virtue of advocating no further action...... I'm no prude, but sportsmanship should be paramount.

    • + 0
    • Oct 31 2016 - 10:11
    • Drivers are not there to please you or be role models for your kids. If you think your lack in parenting skills is a good excuse to blame it on what someone says on TV then I've news for you. Drivers or anyone on TV don't owe it to anyone to be something more just so society can chime in some useless banter about finer points of conduct.

      Get over yourself.

      • + 1
      • Oct 31 2016 - 11:58
    • Vettel and the other drivers are role models. I'm sure that we parents can still guide our kids to using proper language still. But the FIA wants to broadcast their races and I am sure they do not want the rating PG.

      He should be penalised somehow.

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 12:11
    • jan_doedel

      Posts: 48

      Next race you can explain why Vettel isn't driving. On the Dutch variant they are mentioning that Todt is looking into it. (according to the Sun, I do not know how reliable that source is).

      @MCLARENFAN1968 Every person that is a role model, even you for the young readers on this website.

      Everybody that is Broadcasted/posted/printed/heared etc is a possible role model for somebody in the world.

      If you do not see that, you should not post anywhere.

      • + 1
      • Oct 31 2016 - 12:12
    • Nope, only the stupid or people looking for excuses for their failures look for role models to blame on.

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 14:15
    • jan_doedel

      Posts: 48

      Is DR002 looking for an excuse? No he took his responsibility by explaining to his child that that kind of behaviour is unacceptable under any circumstances...

      But with the drivers in the F1 that should not be neccesary. They are old and wise enough to know what is deccent and what is not.

      The problem is that most childs do not let his/her mom and dad decide on who takes the role model part for them. They decide that on their own :) Or does your kid let you decide who (s)he sees as a role model?

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 14:36
    • The parents are supped to be the one controlling and steering what their kids should learn, it it not upto the TV personality or people seen on TV to be all PC clean for your kids. Grow up and be accountable. You are giving pathetic excuses for your lack of parenting skills. It's not the world' job to be nice so that your kids can grow up well if you cant do that don't have kids, simple.

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 15:43
  • Vettel just grew in stock, what needed to be said to those inconsistent A-holes at the FIA was said by him. Well done man you the real MVP! Sure in the name of diplomacy apologies are in-order but really the true feelings of not just drivers but also the fans was conveyed in Vettel's reactions.

    You did well son.

    • + 1
    • Oct 31 2016 - 12:10
    • Nice parenting... not

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 12:34
    • For a four time World Champion, he looks really frustrated. He is a roll modell for that reason and he should be aware of it. He chose this scene to perform in than you should also act like it.
      I really hope Vettel will be penalised for his behaviour, it's immature and unapropriate. Max made some comments over the radio and corrected himself to be more aware of his saying.
      Question here who is acting like an adult?

      • + 2
      • Oct 31 2016 - 13:44
    • If you are looking for examples from TV then you are the biggest fail as a parent. Hopefully you lot are incapable of having kids or else they suffer from poor lazy 'role model' mimicking type parenting.

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 14:17
    • I am not looking at tv for examples. I have kids and they do pick up words from anywhere and it takes a while to get them out of their heads. But I would not say they did well if they talk like that. As you did.

      I'm assuming you have no kids. And you are a disgrace with your behaviour here.

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 14:33
    • You are a total joke as parent, YOU are supped to be the one controlling and steering what your kids should learn, it it not upto the TV personality or people seen on TV to be all PC clean for your kids. Grow up and be accountable you lazy whiner.

      Describable. I pity your kids, serioulsy o.O

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 15:41
    • You realise you are just repeating yourself ignoring all arguments. Please go back to the Dutch side of this website where you would fit in better.

      • + 1
      • Oct 31 2016 - 16:34
    • You do you realize you are being silly and expecting the world to be nice for your kids to grow up while you do nothing in terms of parenting? Obvious parenting fail is obvious. Don't be lazy ;)

      • + 0
      • Nov 2 2016 - 01:59
  • Kevin

    Posts: 5,344

    I enjoy Vettel's outburst on the radio. He speaks his mind, and spares us the political crap we're all familiair with. I could understand his emotions.. In his eyes he got robbed of third place, his engineer told him VES was told to hand him the position but Max refused. He then got even more angry when he saw VES pushing him back into RIC. I just loved it. His comment towards Charlie was over the line, but come one, it was the heat of the moment and it would not have been the first time Max would get away with unsportsmanlike behavior. He probably knew it was wrong of him the moment after he said it, and admitted his mistake and apologised for it later on. You see an entirely different Vettel once the race was over (as usual).

    • + 1
    • Oct 31 2016 - 14:48
    • Damn right! but the internets are filled with politically correct SJWs seeking "justice" and what not ROFLMAO.

      Bunch of whiny piss-heads really. Vettel spoke his mind, pretty much what most fans wanted to tell the FIA with their sloppy decisions and slow inconsistent penalties.

      • + 0
      • Oct 31 2016 - 15:48
    • dr002

      Posts: 141

      Hey Kevin, mate, I totally understand Vettel’s rant at Max, and I’ve got no problem with the level of emotion he showed toward Max (which was appropriately blanked out), but only up until the point that he threatened to punch someone, and up until the point that he abused the ‘ref’ in an aggressive and foul mouthed manner; regardless of whether it was in the heat of the moment or not….. In fact, I really haven’t even got a problem that the exchange was broadcast, so long as there are consequences for such aggressive and disrespectful behaviour….. If my kids were to take away from last Sunday’s race that Vettel’s actions were excusable to the extent that there were no consequences, and if they were to act like that on the soccer field next weekend, I’d be shattered.

      • + 0
      • Nov 2 2016 - 06:57
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    Do us all a favour mclarenfan1968 , stop posting here and get on over to Nascar where your philosophy will find favour. Sporting heroes ARE role models end of and today's parents have enough difficulties dealing ẃith an out of control internet let alone immature potty mouthed sporting has beens like Vettel. I know you are from the UK so you should know better. From your comments I would also guess you are not yourself a parent, but if you are then I pity the poor child as you are surely an extremely poor role model yourself..and by the way, try not to post when you are drunk.

    • + 2
    • Oct 31 2016 - 20:11
    • Nope they are not, grow up and be accountable on your own as a parent. Obvious lazy parenting is obvious.

      • + 0
      • Nov 2 2016 - 01:58

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,024
  • Podiums 112
  • Grand Prix 209
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar