Aug.2 (GMM) The drive-through penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in Hungary shows he still has much to learn.
That is the assessment of the German’s own Red Bull boss Christian Horner, after Niki Lauda scolded 23-year-old Vettel for not simply admitting to “screwing up”.
Vettel vented his anger by gesticulating from the cockpit whilst serving the penalty, and while driving into parc ferme after the race hit the marker board with his front wing.
The German was penalised for falling too far behind the safety car at the restart, and while waiting to go onto the podium pleaded with FIA officials that his mistake had been “not intentional”.
“Somewhere in the first stint I lost the radio connection. (And) I didn’t see the lights (on the safety car go out),” he explained.
“Also Mark (Webber) — usually the leader when he does the re-start tries to drop back and then dictates the pace,” added Vettel.
Boss Horner responded: “It’s premature to blame the radio for this one. He’s obviously frustrated after today but it’s part of a learning curve and there’s seven races to go.”
Former Super Aguri driver and now BBC radio commentator Anthony Davidson blamed both Vettel and his team.
“He clearly didn’t know about the safety car rule but it’s the team’s job to make sure the driver knows the rules,” said the Briton.
Bild newspaper described the mistake as “damlich” (stupid).
