Verstappen: Vettel crash could have happened to anyone

Max Verstappen defended Sebastian Vettel after a costly error saw him give up a German Grand Prix victory and the lead of the drivers' championship. Rain at the Hockenheimring caught out Vettel at the Sachs Curve, as he locked up and skated across the gravel trap and into the barriers.

Rain caused chaos in the latter part of Sunday's race, at one point all five tyre compounds were circulating the track, with Verstappen among a clutch of drivers to gamble on intermediates, only to bail out soon after.

Vettel stuck to slicks, although it was an error under braking that ultimately cost him.

The four-time world champion has been a critic of Verstappen's in the past, suggesting he should change his driving style after being hit by the Dutchman in China.

However, the Red Bull man did not point fingers after the race, admitting that Vettel's fate could have befallen any of the drivers.

"It was super tricky out there. Especially in that corner," said Verstappen, after finishing fourth.

"Even if you experience the slightest lock up there, you immediately go off. These were very difficult circumstances. So things like this can happen."

When it was put to Verstappen that Vettel had made other errors in the season, he replied: "Well, 'mistake'... these were difficult circumstances.

"It could have happened to someone else just as easily.

"You just try to find good grip everywhere, but you don't want to take too many risks because you already have some good points in the bag.

"You don't want to risk losing those by going off.

"Dealing with that risk is very difficult. If you lock up for just a moment, you fly off the track."