Vettel: Late-race tyre dramas caught us by surprise

At the halfway point of the season, Vettel's championship lead has been slashed to one point as title rival Lewis Hamilton won his home race.

Vettel could only salvage seventh after a front-left puncture on his penultimate lap.

When asked by Sky Sports F1 if Ferrari was at fault for pitting him too early, as he undercut Red Bull's Max Verstappen for third, he replied: "I don't think there's anyone particularly to blame.

"Hindsight is great, with hindsight it is easy, but at the time it felt okay. Kimi I think had a similar issues, and his tyres were at least five or six laps fresher. So I think it caught us both by surprise.

"I think it could have been a little bit better for sure, but disaster I don't think so. I think we had a good car, especially in the corners. The balance was alright.

"The brakes caught fire at the start which compromised the start, and from there it was a difficult race.

"I didn't get past Max, I did it with the pitstop, and then it was looking like P3, P4. It was clear that Valtteri [Bottas, who finished second] would come, obviously he benefitted in the beginning because I got stuck.

"Overall small things here and there led to a busy afternoon."