Red Bull Racing star Sebastian Vettel has denied ignoring team orders at the Chinese Grand Prix while teammate Daniel Ricciardo says no conflict exists between the two drivers.
Vettel caused a minor stir at Sunday’s Chinese GP when he appeared to ignore team orders after receiving instruction to allow Ricciardo to pass.
Initially replying “tough luck”, Vettel eventually allowed Ricciardo to overtake on the 27th lap, enabling the Australian rookie to finish fourth and 20 seconds ahead of the four-time world champ.
Red Bull: “Sebastian, let Ricciardo through. Let Daniel through, please.”
Sebastian Vettel: “Which tyre is he on?”
RB: “Primes, but he stopped later than you.”
V: “Tough luck.”
Both drivers dismissed the notion that a rift was forming between the pair after Vettel’s relationship with former Australian teammate Mark Webber publicly soured early last season.
“I did move over,” Vettel told reporters.
“Initially I didn’t understand (the request) because we were on the same tyres.
“At that stage Daniel was on a different strategy so, yeah, I moved over.
“I could see more and more towards the end of the race that I just didn’t have the pace … In the end there was no point in holding him back.”
Vettel made news at last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix when he disobeyed team orders and stole a win from Webber.
“I don’t want to start any conflicts or anything,” Ricciardo told the BBC.
“At the end of the day we eventually got past and I was able to do my race.”
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner backed up Vettel’s comments, noting both drivers were using the same tyres and the German had the competitive right to question the call.
“Look, at that stage Seb was on the same tyres and he wants to race,” Horner said.
“But he was going through the tyres quicker so he’s obviously moved out of the way and let his teammate through.
“For any driver, they don’t like that call. But he’s absolutely abided by it. He’s a team player at the end of the day.”
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Photo: Peter Fox, Getty Images
Video courtesy of F1 Racing HD
