Rivals think that Sebastian Vettel was lucky to get third place in Abu Dhabi GP – Formula 1 news
Rival F1 teams have stated that Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was lucky at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he scored a podium finish despite having to start the race from the pit lane.
Vettel had to deal with an unlucky disqualification during the qualifiers for the race on Saturday. His car suffered a fuel irregularity due to which it could not make it to the pits. The incident was in contrast with the FIA rules so that Vettel was disqualified
from his third position on the grid to start the race from the pit lane.
However, come race day, Vettel extracted the quick pace of his car and overtook many rival drivers to achieve his third place behind his championship rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrari but it is being commented upon that the driver was helped by the two safety
cars introduced in the race.
“Yes,” McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, told Autosport when asked if he was surprised with the outcome. “But I think he was pretty fortunate with safety cars and the general demolition derby that was going on. He didn't have to overtake as many
of the quicker cars as he should have, as they were already taken out. I don't think anyone would have expected that many safety cars here, but they were pretty helpful to him and he did a great job to get through.”
Ferrari team principal, Stefano Domenicali, stated that such incidents are part of the sport and Vettel used them to his advantage.
“He did a great race and he was pushing like as normal,” explained Domenicali. “He had moments where he was lucky or unlucky; it depends on how you see things.”
The Red Bull driver admitted himself that the safety cars turned out to be in his favour and helped him overtake McLaren’s Jenson Button for the third position. Team principal for Red Bull, Christian Horner, was really impressed by Vettel’s determination
and the way he raced at the Yas Marina circuit. Horner confessed that they had been not been expecting the podium finish but what happened with this race will be avoided next time.
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