2017 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand PrixFormula 1

[prisonermonkeys]

Vettel had plenty of time to process what had happened and to figure out what he could have said to the waiting media - a credible explanation and an apology would have been a smart move, but he chose not to do that and instead offered a garbled excuse ('it's a man's sport and these things happen') coupled with a childish attempt at shifting the blame on to someone else.

Maybe. But it's worth remembering that Nico Rosberg and Mark Webber had a lot of success playing the media, and I'm sure they're not the only ones who do it. Was Vettel trying to talk his way out of a situation, or was he telling the media what they wanted to hear? After all, Rosberg liked being the Germanic villain in the British press because they always portrayed him as the bad guy without focusing on the particulars of what he was doing. Because flash-forward twenty-four hours and:

Vettel wants to talk to Hamilton and "clear the air". Hamilton says he's not interested in anything Vettel has to say.

Now that tempers are cooled, Vettel has offered to talk privately with Hamilton and apologise. But less than two hours after making the offer, Hamilton has refused to so much as talk to him. Now maybe this is just me, but I was always taught that if someone offers you an olive branch, you at least do them the courtesy of hearing them out before deciding what to do about it. If Vettel was childish for trying to talk his way out of it, Hamilton is equally-childish for refusing his peace offering.

 

[kilesa4568]

I wouldn't be interested in what he (Vettel) has to say either. He went too far with the personal attack on what was essentially a failed cover up for his own stupid mistake.

Sod the olive branch. Let them thrash it out on track.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Now maybe this is just me, but I was always taught that if someone offers you an olive branch, you at least do them the courtesy of hearing them out before deciding what to do about it.

If that advice came at a time when you were fighting from behind for the World Drivers' Championship and your opponent wanted to get himself out a bad place and regain the moral upper ground then it was terrible advice.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If that advice came at a time when you were fighting from behind for the World Drivers' Championship and your opponent wanted to get himself out a bad place and regain the moral upper ground then it was terrible advice.

No, it came when I was about seven or eight years old and learning how to deal with conflict and generally be a well-adjusted person.

 

[Touring Mars]

Now that tempers are cooled, Vettel has offered to talk privately with Hamilton and apologise. But less than two hours after making the offer, Hamilton has refused to so much as talk to him. Now maybe this is just me, but I was always taught that if someone offers you an olive branch, you at least do them the courtesy of hearing them out before deciding what to do about it. If Vettel was childish for trying to talk his way out of it, Hamilton is equally-childish for refusing his peace offering.

There is a major difference though - Vettel should be apologising to his team, to his fans and to fans of F1 in general, as well as apologising to Hamilton personally; his lack of contrition is not what I expected from him. What happens between Vettel and Hamilton is a personal matter. I'd agree with the idea that Hamilton should be open to an olive branch/apology, but is that what is being offered, or is Vettel also looking for an opportunity to deflect the blame for his own unacceptable behaviour? Either way, Vettel could do well to heed the old adage: when you're in a hole, stop digging.

 

[BMfan]

We can clearly see Lewis brake hard mid corner though?

4

Sorry if this has been said before.
So you believe that graph so much that you think an F1 car can apply full brakes at 70km\h and it wont stop in a split second.

 

[kilesa4568]

No, it came when I was about seven or eight years old and learning how to deal with conflict and generally be a well-adjusted person.

They're not there to make friends but what could he possibly say to make amends for his antics and comments?

I've seen plenty of professional fouls in F1 but what Vettel said/did was inexcusable. Better to keep his head down and ride the storm out than offer a meaningless apology.

 

[shoemaker]

Best race i have seen a few years.Epic from start to finish

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It's a ploy from Vettel to gain a psychological advantage(tm). By deleting the 2nd collision from his memory bank he is able to maintain complete self-confidence in his own ability to drive flawlessly, and also paint himself as the hero fighting against the "evil corrupt" FIA and Mercedes World Order...

So are you going to post fringe conspiracy every GP, is this to be expected? It seems almost like a parody/satire of an F1 fan, is that your angle? Also with reddit text speak as well I see from earlier posts in this thread from you...

Now that tempers are cooled, Vettel has offered to talk privately with Hamilton and apologise. But less than two hours after making the offer, Hamilton has refused to so much as talk to him. Now maybe this is just me, but I was always taught that if someone offers you an olive branch, you at least do them the courtesy of hearing them out before deciding what to do about it. If Vettel was childish for trying to talk his way out of it, Hamilton is equally-childish for refusing his peace offering.

Just you, read the article, he said what he said in post races interviews. He thought it was unbecoming of an F1 driver of their caliber, especially being multi-wdc, but also said it's over and done with and wishes to move on. In other words, as he said in the interview, he's not pointing fingers or blame and just wants to get back to their fight on the track not the silly dramatics. Would hearing the guy out be a better option, I think so. Is basically letting him off the hook for what could have actually ended both their races just as good, no, but it is an easier way of just letting it go.

I myself was taught that sometimes you let things go, and move on. That seems to be the situation here.

 

[JayOTT]

It seems almost like a parody/satire of an F1 fan, is that your angle?

Hide the memes everyone, we're getting swatted by the no fun police here...

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Hide the memes everyone, we're getting swatted by the no fun police here...

Hey look you actually answered the questions while trying to be clever...good job.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Hide the memes everyone, we're getting swatted by the no fun police here...

fun and blatant ignorance don't go together

 

[JayOTT]

You and everyone who likes that last post are going on my ignore list.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

You and everyone who likes that last post are going on my ignore list.

Oh nice threats, "he's got a bomb everyone"

 

[Nessy]

Fantastic! race. Even though the guy I was rooting for didn't win, the race in itself was very exciting and I was happy for Ricciardo, Bottas and Stoffel to be on the podium.

This season really looks to be one of the best in years (so far). Really hope it continues in this vein.

 

[Dennisch]

Stoffel

Stoffel Stroll? Lance Vandoorne?

 

[jontikis]

I was happy for Ricciardo, Bottas and Stoffel to be on the podium.

lol whaaaat!

 

[Nessy]

Lol!! Sorry, brain fart. Yes, Lance Stroll.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Fantastic! race. Even though the guy I was rooting for didn't win, the race in itself was very exciting and I was happy for Ricciardo, Bottas and Stoffel to be on the podium.

This season really looks to be one of the best in years (so far). Really hope it continues in this vein.

This just in McLaren renews contract with Honda after surprise podium finish in Baku


edit: we had to @Nessy

 

[AudiMan2011]

I have a feeling the Vettel/Hamilton fallout from this race is going to rumble on for the rest of the season. A bit like how the relationship between Rosberg and Hamilton compeletely fell apart after Spain last year.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Oh nice threats, "he's got a bomb everyone"

Sadly, because he's ignored us he'll never see that comment.

 

[Liquid]

Sebastian Vettel's post-race interview may end up being used in Psychology classes across the world as a classic example of 'complete denial'. The fact that he suggested that his penalty was due to him accidentally rear-ending Hamilton (and not the subsequent deliberate ramming incident) is as astonishing as it was laughable, but it was also adding to insult to injury, except this time he was insulting the intelligence of every person who saw what happened. Vettel had plenty of time to process what had happened and to figure out what he could have said to the waiting media - a credible explanation and an apology would have been a smart move, but he chose not to do that and instead offered a garbled excuse ('it's a man's sport and these things happen') coupled with a childish attempt at shifting the blame on to someone else. I think everyone can appreciate that even the top sportspeople can make mistakes and can do or say stupid things in the heat of the moment, but acting like it never happened or making mealy-mouthed excuses just makes a bad incident worse. I was hoping that Vettel could have just said 'I was angry at what I thought was unsporting behaviour and I wanted him to know that I was not happy about it - but I shouldn't have lashed out and I regret what I did'. Is that too much to expect from a 4-time World Champion?

Fingerboy Psychology. There are two possible answers:

a) Lewis Hamilton's fault
b) Not Sebastian Vettel's fault

 

[shoemaker]

I dont think Hamilton realised seb was so close behind him...accident. I dont think vettel meant to drive into him,think he was too busy trying to get Ham's attention and cocked up. But as if he will admit that. Iam happy this all happened,these drivers are getting too friendly and need more attitude!

 

[Nessy]

I have a feeling the Vettel/Hamilton fallout from this race is going to rumble on for the rest of the season. A bit like how the relationship between Rosberg and Hamilton compeletely fell apart after Spain last year.

Potentially, yeah.

Personally I'd like to see some kind of resolve if it does go further into the season but at the same time, I feel this is more healthy than the inter-team battle between Nico and Lewis. Especially when you factor in a possible tension between Kimi and Bottas (not saying there is one atm, but all it could take is another coming together), in a Ferrari vs Mercedes kind of way.

 

[Jimlaad43]

In regards to the Hamilton/Vettel incident, this appears to be the split of opinion.

Vettel Fanboys: Hamilton brake checked Seb, and Vettel was entitled to swipe him back/didn't touch him
Vettel Fans: Hamilton brake checked Seb, that's the important part of the incident
Hamilton Fanboys: Vettel is an idiot who needs to be disqualified from everything for ramming Lewis twice
Hamilton Fans: Vettel drove into the back of a not-braking Hamilton, and then reacted wildly
Neutrals: The first bit of contact was a misunderstanding between the two drivers, both of which were trying to get as much of an advantage as possible that they could. Hamilton wasn't at fault, and Vettel shouldn't have swiped at Hamilton
The Stewards: Hamilton did not brake check Vettel, who deserved a 10 second stop/go penalty and 3 points on his license.

In italics are the only opinions that have all the relevant information and are unbiased, experienced and used to deciding these things - ergo the only ones that properly matter and are correct (or as close to correct as you can get).

 

[TheCracker]

I dont think Hamilton realised seb was so close behind him...accident. I dont think vettel meant to drive into him,think he was too busy trying to get Ham's attention and cocked up.

Hamilton, mindful that at the previous restart he almost misjudged passing the safety car before it cleared into the pits, wanted to make sure he'd left enough gap before he floored it this time. Vettel, mindful that at the previous restart he wasn't close enough to the back of Hamilton when he made a break for it, was too eager to keep close to Hamilton this time around and give himself perhaps the only opportunity he'd get to slipstream Hamilton and make a pass for the lead.

 

[Jimlaad43]

What it comes down to is that both drivers were doing the correct thing tactically, and just got it wrong. The only incident of note was the swerve.

 

[paskowitz]

I can't help but imagine that Vettel would have come out on top of this situation had he not retaliated after the initial hit (which, IMO was careless at best). First, rightly or wrongly, Vettel would likely not have gotten a penalty and won the race easily, further extending his driver's championship lead. Second, the majority of the attention would be on Hamilton (was that intentional or not??? Did it cost him the race b/c it caused the headrest. Etc.). I'm a Ferrari fan, but Vettel royally screwed up a golden opportunity.

 

[DesertPenguin09]

Completely, He'd be on podium with Hamilton coming back to 5th or so like he did.

But if the two Force India's didn't collide they would have had a chance at winning or definitely a podium.

 

[daan]

Did Vettel banging wheels with Hamilton loosen the Merc's headrest?