Helmut Marko clarifies team instructions to Vettel ‘not a tactical decision’ – Formula 1 news
Red Bull Racing have clarified that the instructions the team gave to Sebastian Vettel at 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix, which he could not hear due to technical problem, were based on tactical decision for the races ahead.
The defending champions have been alleged in some of the publications that they pretended about the brake issue mainly due to strategic reason and ordered Vettel to retire the car for the sake of installing a new gearbox for the Chinese Grand Prix without
any kind of penalty.
However, Dr Helmut Marko has made the clarification regarding the claims and said that it was not meant to gain some tactical advantage.
Marko told Bild newspaper, “After the crash (with Narain Karthikeyan), the temperature of the brakes rose far above the allowed level. We called him in purely because the car was no longer safe. It was not a tactical decision.”
Christian Horner, the team boss of Red Bull said that the temperature of the car’s brake raised to an alarmingly dangerous level therefore, they ordered Vettel to retire. However, double world champion did not respond to the instructions and ended at 11th position
with not been able to score even a single point.
Furthermore, Horner made it clear afterwards by saying that Vettel could not hear as the radio was out of order. Conversely, the pictures frequently revealed the same messages on the pit boards.
At the end of the race, Vettel said, “Of course you can save the car, but I wanted to see the chequered flag. I think that’s how it should be.”
Besides, Auto Motor und Sport reported on Vettel’s confirmation, “I heard the command.”
In addition, it has been reported that Vettel will be at Milton-Keynes this week to talk about the issue of overlooking the team’s order during the second GP.
It would be interesting to know that legendary Hans-Joachim Stuck said, “Another driver would be fired, but Vettel has the confidence of being a double world champion.”
Moreover, Marc Surer who is a Swiss commentator asserted, “It was the right decision by Vettel, as the team needs to be careful with commands like that.”
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