F1 News
Vettel "worried" for other teams' mechanics during Verstappen-Bottas clash
Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel has revealed he was "worried" during his pitstop in the Monaco Grand Prix for the safety of the mechanics of other teams, as Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas in front of him were going side-by-side through the pitlane.
Vettel was one of many drivers who dove into the pitlane for new rubber when the Safety Car was deployed. Vettel's teammate Charles Leclerc had spread pieces of carbon fibre all over the Circuit de Monaco that needed sweeping after suffering a puncture.
Bottas, Verstappen and Vettel came into the pit in that order, but after a lightning-quick 2.4 second stop, Verstappen came away first, ending up next to Bottas. Neither driver yielded until Bottas did at the end of the pitlane, leaving the Dutchman in front of him.
Verstappen was given a five-second penalty for an unsafe release, but Vettel, who saw everything unfold in front of him, was worried about something else.
“Max must have had an amazing pit stop first of all, because we were all just right behind each other and I came out just behind Valtteri but Max jumped him, so he had a better stop than both of us," Vettel was quoted by Crash.net.
"But then there was nowhere to go.
"I was worried actually, because some of the guys further down the pit lane were, not panicking, but they did really well - the mechanics of Racing Point - clearing the hoses and giving way to two cars.
“Not sure Max saw that Valtteri was really side-by-side but it was just getting closer and I could see it coming. Valtteri had no place to go, but yeah, I thought maybe there’s something I can benefit, which turned out to be the case.
“Valtteri was lucky, I guess the lead pack had such a big margin to the cars behind that he had eventually another free pit stop - but it’s not ideal, obviously, it could have ended his race there.”
Vettel ended up in second place as Bottas had to make an unscheduled second pitstop shortly after his first one as he picked up a small puncture from the contact with Verstappen.
