Verstappen: Vettel crash could have happened to anyone
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."
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 Results Today: Chinese Grand Prix practice times as SURPRISE driver tops charts
- 23 minutes ago
Chinese Grand Prix practice red flagged after BIZARRE fire
- 59 minutes ago
F1 Chinese Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today from Shanghai
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton opens up on Wolff talks over Ferrari move as Verstappen SLAMS F1 decision - GPFans F1 Recap
- Today 00:27
F1 Sprint Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 23:27
Marko suggests 'exciting' move to REPLACE Ricciardo
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860