Vettel: I was faster, I passed him, I won

Look, we don’t want to keep talking about the fallout from the Malaysian Grand Prix, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Despite the weeks that have passed, Formula 1’s media spotlight is still pointing directly at Sebastian Vettel. And the three-time champ is only too happy to make the most of the opportunity.

Interviewed by Reuters ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Vettel says he was faster and Webber didn’t deserve to win at Sepang.

Still claiming he didn’t understand the now infamous ‘multi 21’ instruction Vettel said: “Had I understood the message, then I think I would have thought about it, reflected on what it means, what the team wants me to do, to leave Mark in first place and me finishing second.

“And I think I would have thought about it and probably done the same thing because Mark doesn’t deserve that.”

When asked to expand on his comment that Mark didn’t deserve victory Vettel replied: “I don’t like to talk ill of other people. It’s not my style. I think I said enough. The bottom line is that I was racing, I was faster, I passed him, I won.”

On the question of trust with his Australian teammate Vettel added: “Being completely honest, I never have support from his side. I’ve got a lot of support from the team and I think the team is supporting both of us the same way.

“I respect him a lot as a racing driver but I think there were more than one occasions in the past where he could have helped the team and he didn’t.

“I wouldn’t call it trust to be honest. I think we have a professional relationship.”

The Webber–Vettel rift began after the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix and back then Red Bull was able to stage manage a reconciliation between the pair. We don’t think that will be happening again. It will be fascinating to see how the pair’s on-track relationship develops over the course of the year. This could get very ugly.

[Source: Reuters | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]