Vettel in Brazil post race interview - no class

[John S]

Yeah but it wouldn't have been true, at the end Mark fell back because he had used up fuel chasing Seb in the mid part of the race. Mark was warned several times by his team that his car was overheating yet he chose to keep trying to close on Vettel.

I'm not sure where you found that out.  I tried to listen to all the broadcasted radio transmissions, and have hunted the internet looking for quotes about Mark being short on fuel.  His car was running hot almost the entire race, so that isn't news. 

About 6 laps from the finish Mark got a radio message from the team to say he was now free to increase pace as Alonso was starting to get close. The BBC commentary then went on to agree that Mark's engineer had just indicated he could ignore fuel management mode and manage the gap to Alonso. The BBC also threw in for good measure that all the cars start with less fuel than it takes to complete a GP at top speed.





   

[Scott]

About 6 laps from the finish Mark got a radio message from the team to say he was now free to increase pace as Alonso was starting to get close. The BBC commentary then went on to agree that Mark's engineer had just indicated he could ignore fuel management mode and manage the gap to Alonso. The BBC also threw in for good measure that all the cars start with less fuel than it takes to complete a GP at top speed.

I understood that to mean he could ignore the engine temperatures and dial it up so Alonso could not catch up.  I must have missed the BBC commentary about fuel management.  But anyhow, that's their guess, which is not better than yours or mine.  I haven't found anywhere in RBR or Webber quotes that fuel was ever an issue for Mark.

[Willy]

Vettel is just like his hero Schumacher in that he is not a team player and never will be. He does everything for Vettel, not Red Bull, or that matter his higher points teammate.

Webber has the better chance to win the WDC so he should be given preferance over Seb but Horner is being so careful not to let anyone say he is using team orders he has let the pendulum swing too far the other way.

 I agree with Canada Darrel that Vettel has no class but I can be found on this site saying the same about Schumacher as well and they are cut from the same cloth.

Yes, I understand the racers mentality and win at all cost attitude but you are still a team member and you did not get where you are alone.

[Ian]

I agree Willy.....cut from the same cloth......yes, you are a team member but if you don't want to win your not an F1 driver. 

[Ian]

Come on people, I'm not a Vettel fan but listen to the first part of what Vettel said about Ferrari smoke......." We would'nt wish anything bad on him(Fernando)"

[Canada Darrell™]

In that case....I wouldn't want my neighbour to die a horrible painful death because he lets his dog bark all day but I wouldn't mind seeing the ambulance pull up next door! 

[Ian]

Darrell, remind me never to upset you,   

[Jericoke]

I understood that to mean he could ignore the engine temperatures and dial it up so Alonso could not catch up.  I must have missed the BBC commentary about fuel management.

I guess if you listen to the BBC often, you might have become immune to Martin Brundle explaining that the cars don't start with enough petrol to complete the race at top speed for the whole distance.  He brings it up every single race, usually in conjunction with a radio message about changing fuel settings.

It's a tough job, being a commentator like that.  You need to explain what's going on to anyone who's new, but you don't want to bore your long time fans either.  Personally, I'm a fan of Brundle.

And if Vettel is getting ahead of Mark while carrying more fuel... then he really is the better driver.  Otherwise, if Mark's engineer can't figure out fuel consumption... well, even my Ford Fusion tells me how long before I run out of gas...

[lkjohnson1950]

Like Rom, I don't believe that there will be any circumstance that Vettel will move over for Webber unless forced to (i.e. they blow his pit stop).  Vettel is a selfish racer, and not a team player

I'm beginning to believe that, like Williams, Red Bull does not care about the driver's championship. They might like Vettel to win it, but not enough to take an active role in securing it. Also, they may be waiting for the last possible moment to decide. If Alonso somehow gets knocked back and is not in 3rd as they approach the finish, and Vettel is leading Webber, Vettel wins the championship on tie breakers. If Alonso lies 3rd then only Webber can win, and only by winning.  I Think.

Lonny

[Scott]

It was only the second time I have listened to the BBC feed in years, so no, I'm not immune...however if Brundle said that, and he is correct, then I guess all the cars were struggling with their fuel management to finish the race.

Look, my point was simply that nobody at RBR said anything about a fuel issue, either in the race or post race.  Had it actually been an issue, surely someone would have used it as an excuse post race for why Mark couldn't catch Vettel.  They didn't. 

John was a bit harsh in his criticism of Webber in my opinion, and I was simply defending that. 
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[John S]

My point is that I think Webber used extra fuel whilst trying to chase down Vettel in the first half of the race which was fine whilst they had a big gap to the rest of the field. However the safety car threw a spanner in the works and Alonso was given a chance to close on Mark, where as Seb was able to pull a big gap in front. The engine temperature may have caused Mark to slow, but he had not backed off earlier in the race when he had a comfortable gap to third and he carried the problem from quite early on. Because Red Bull has won the constructors title the whole focus of their post race press undersandably has been about that, a small issue like fuel strategy especially as it did not change the result is unlikely to come up. I may appear to be hard on Mark but in my opinion he took an unecessary risk trying to match Seb's pace on the day.

  

[Scott]

You're right - he took a risk - but I would say that it was Vettel and the team that created the situation where he felt he must take such a risk.  Necessary for him, but perhaps not others.