Lauda: Stroll crash could cost Vettel at Suzuka
Oct.2 - Sebastian Vettel's title hopes look set to take yet another hit, after a bizarre post-race incident in Malaysia.
It had already been a horror weekend for Ferrari, with Vettel starting the race from the back of the grid and Kimi Raikkonen not starting at all with a near-identical turbo issue.
Germany's Auto Bild reports that the problem may be a bad batch of carbon pipes.
It all means Vettel's points deficit to Lewis Hamilton blew out by a further 6 points, despite a stunning drive through the field to fourth by the German.
But team boss Toto Wolff nonetheless called Malaysia "painful" for Mercedes.
"We didn't have the pace to challenge Red Bull or Ferrari," he said. "We need to get on top of why we underperform on certain circuits."
But Mercedes' weekend was not nearly as bad as Ferrari's, with Vettel almost running out of fuel at the end before he got involved in a bizarre post-chequered flag crash.
"I think he just didn't look," said Vettel, after hitching a ride back to the pits on the sidepod of a rival's car.
Vettel was referring to Lance Stroll, but the Williams driver was not willing to take the blame for the crash.
"The race was over, so I'm not looking in the mirrors," he told Bild newspaper.
The big fear now is that Vettel's gearbox may be damaged, which could cost him a five-position grid demotion this weekend in Japan.
Vettel said the rear of the car is "very damaged".
As for whether he will take a five-place drop at Suzuka, he answered: "I don't know. We'll find a way.
"It's not my fault if somebody crashes into me."
Indeed, it is believed that Ferrari immediately asked the FIA for special dispensation due to the bizarre nature of the post-race crash with Stroll.
It is also believed that the FIA said no dispensation would be granted in the event Vettel's gearbox needs to be changed.
Niki Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, blames Vettel.
"To be polite, crashing after the race is not good," he said. "Why is he overtaking after the race? There is no reason.
"Ok, maybe the fault is with both of them. But it could be a more of a problem for Sebastian in Japan," Lauda added.
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Its just funny how people keep saying "stunning driving through the field....", to get fourth?!? If Vettel was in any other car than a Mercedes, Ferrari, or Red Bull (6 cars total), and having Raikonen out in the first lap, Bottas with a car that proved not that well since practice1, what is so stunning? And we are not talking about a circuit where you cannot pass other cars, so, give us a break.
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