Niki Lauda has excused formula one rookie Sebastian Vettel for smashing himself and Mark Webber out of the Japanese grand prix while behind the safety car.
Both of the Red Bull stablemates were in contention for a rare podium at the treacherous Fuji Speedway, but 20-year-old Vettel’s error brought him to tears and incurred the wrath of a derogatory Webber.
But triple world champion Lauda told the newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung of Vettel: “A young driver like him must be forgiven.”
