How things change when Sebastian Vettel isn’t assimilating his opponents. Suddenly his ‘cool as a cucumber’ temparement has gone out the window!
In fact, he’s calling competitors cucumbers after the horrifying prospect of consecutive non-victories by Vettel was realised!
Two races into his title defence, cracks are already forming in the double World Champion’s psyche, after limping to eleventh at the Malaysia Grand Prix.
The German had the audacity to label HRTs Narain Karthikeyan a “cucumber” after Vettel, running fourth at the time, moved back onto the racing line too early in lapping the Indian, incurring a puncture.
Vettel tried to put across his “everybody’s best friend” joker personality, by stating that “as in real life, there are a few cucumbers on the road.”
It appears that the German’s true colours emerge when things finally don’t swing in his direction.
What’s more, Vettel evaded any blame for his first non-mechanical related non-points finish since Belgium 2010, citing radio communication problems as a primary factor in ruining his seemingly hand picked by God, naturally assumed victory.
“Today it was crucial to come in at the right time and having no radio meant we were delayed getting the messages and I didn’t hear anything from the team at the end” said the German.
Sebastian, you were running a distant fourth before the incident, nowehere near third-placed Lewis Hamilton, so it’s not as though you were cost a podium or victory!
As for the final lap — the on, off, on, off and on again calls for you to retire the car, well Sebastian, you were already eleventh then, that’s no points!
Has Vettel cracked?
(For the record, Karthikeyan incurred a twenty-second post-race penalty despite his innocence in the atrocity.)
geoff
Guest
i reckon something got lost in the translation. a pickled cucumber is otherwise known as a dill.
suresh
Guest
You would not have said the same thing if Narain had been outspoken. Different laws for different people ?
Jhdee
Guest
@ Andy - I think you have forgotten the occasion when good old Schumi headed straight for Coulthard's pit to punch his lights out after running up DC's chuff when he had moved over for an overtake ?? Similar wet conditions too. Mature - now maybe but not then. Vettel is still very young, already a double world champion and was lapping the "Cucumber" - I would be annoyed too - dropping the 4th position points to a nice fat zero. Good for Vettel - let's have some more outspoken drivers and stop hiding behind the facade of team politics - if you believe somebody has cut you up then say so.
Rhys
Guest
Vettel is a great front runner, none finer on the current grid of F1 drivers. He has never impressed much when under significant pressure, either being chased down, or having to do the chasing. He's a phenomenal talent behind the wheel, but for mine cannot be considered among the greats of the sport until he can perform under real pressure, consistently. This season is shaping up to be a cracker. Nothing against Massa, but it appears his nerve behind the wheel is a bit compromised these days, and I would love to see the likes of a Perez partnering Alonso at Ferrari.
The Truth Hurts
Guest
Once again Vettel proves what a whingeing little ..... he is. If he wasn't spoon fed by Red Bull when they had by far the best car on the track I doubt he would have won either of his overall F1 titles.
gttommo
Roar Rookie
I would say they share the blame on this one, Vettel could have made sure he was properly past Karthikeyan before trying to move in front of him but Karthikeyan should also have been sure that Vettel was past before pulling back in the way he did. Karthikeyan made a fair point after the race when he said the back markers also need a bit of respect and can't be expected to move over onto the grass to let the leaders through every time. The incident with Button and Karthikeyan was 100% Button's fault, he admitted as much, so no way Karthikeyan is at fault there. Vettel is a fantastic driver but no driver irritates me more than him. He seems really petulant and his antics when he is involved in an incident are really childish and it seems that nothing is ever his fault, the incident he had with Weber a few years ago springs to mind. Plus, its not like he has never made mistakes and crashed into other cars so he should know that it happens sometimes.
B.A Sports
How dare Vettel complain or makes excuses! F1 drivers don't do that! Certainly not Red Bull drivers.....
Andy
Guest
Makes you wonder if Vettel is a racist or has any prejudice?! I really doubt if he would have used these words if it were another German or European driver.. Or another former champ.. Granted Naren is not the best driver, but when you factor in the crappy car he is in, you can't say much. If he is in a winning car, he is capable of finishing at the podium or at least in points. He may not be as good as Vettel but he certainly is not a cucumber. He was a popular driver in NASCAR trucking series.. Vettel lost his cool.. Another driver would have called it an unfortunate racing incident! If you look Schumacher these days and listen to his comments, you see how mature they are and his responses are : about the team, other drivers, situations etc. Vettel needs to grow up. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti Vettel or anything, in fact he is one of my favorite drivers.. But he needs to be mire mature and treat racing incedents as such. The same weekend, Michael was hit by Grosjean that cost him a likely podium spot.. He started 3rd. Look at his response. Vettel: learn!
AndyMack
Guest
narain is a bit of a cucumber though....
Wylie
Guest
How do you 'assimilate' your opponents? Is Vettel actually a Borg?
Scott
Guest
He actually went further on the BBC and called NK an idiot. Perhaps he's forgotten where he came from and what it's like in slower cars. I hope Webber keeps putting the heat on him, if only to see Helmut Marko's good eye pop out of his head.
mfree
Guest
I think it was Karthikeyans fault cause he should of given vettel some space to rejoin seeing vettel was in front and lapping him and i dont think its a coincident that button also made contact with the indian in the same race plus Karthikeyan has made some silly decisions in the past so its not an isolated incident, smarter more skillful drivers would of been able to avoid these situations. i agree vettel has been rattled and has been out paced against the mclarens and it comes as a big shock that webber is out qualifying him.
Mark Hutchins
Guest
I disagree. The responsibility for the safe pass rests on the person making the pass. The driver being past is to "hold your line". The passing driver can not know which way the overtaken driver will decide to "move", thus the admonition to "hold your line" when being past. This is Vettel's fault, totally. I agree, he is rattled and his true personality is coming out, out qualified twice and beaten.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Vettel does indeed look a little rattled at the moment. I think his penalty for the Vettel incident is harsh, since Seb did move back on him fairly agressively, but it is the responsiblity of the overtaken man to get out of the way, and you can certainly say he didn't do that. More concerning is that when stuck back in the pack, unlike an Alonso, or indeed a Mark Webber! Vettel seems unable to grind out a mistake free race in traffic to pick up a maximum points load. Three weeks of soul searching ahead no doubt