Formula 1

VETTEL : MY OPINION IS NO LONGER IMPORTANT

Published

3 years ago

16/08/2020

VETTEL MY OPINION IS NO LONGER IMPORTANT

Starting 11th on medium tires, the German put on the softs on lap 26 before the Ferrari strategists got confused about the strategy to adopt.

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has stated Sebastian Vettel will no longer advise on the future of the Scuderia, after the German had earlier stated his opinion “is no longer important”.

Vettel was voted Driver of the Day in Barcelona, as the four-time champion held on to seventh place despite running on very worn soft tyres after starting 11th on the grid.

The 33-year-old was heard again on team radio arguing with his race engineer about tyre strategy, after being told to race on his tyres before being asked to preserve them until the end.

Afterwards Vettel said to Sky Italia: “My opinion is no longer important.

“Apart from everything, the car is what it is, we are trying to do our best, it’s a tough season for everyone.”

When confronted with Vettel’s earlier comment, Binotto was not at all amused, and countered by stating that the fact the German was leaving the team at the end of the season meant he was being precluded from discussions on the team’s future.

He told Sky Italia: “It is in line with his disappointment of not being part of Ferrari in 2021.

“He will no longer give advice for the future. He is working hard, relations are good and the weekend was decent. His race was good, he took a step forward and in Spa he should be in better spirits.”

Team-mate Charles Leclerc had an unfortunate outing at the Circuit de Catalunya, retiring from the race with a mechanical failure, and Vettel now moves up to 11th in the drivers’ championship, while Ferrari was demoted to fifth in the constructors’ championship.

VETTEL : MY OPINION IS NO LONGER IMPORTANT VETTEL : MY OPINION IS NO LONGER IMPORTANT