Commentary
Formula 1
Vettel's 'boos' and 'balls' still making waves
Prior to the start of the Korean Grand Prix, Vettel and his "balls" comment is back along with the "boos" but as Alonso said: "When I was world champion, the fans booed me."
GMM
Edited: Oct 6, 2013, 5:18 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Oct.6 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel's 'boos' and 'balls' are still making waves in the Formula One paddock.
Just as insiders wondered why crowds keep booing the German on the podium, Vettel crassly explained Red Bull's dominance by saying his team works hard while his rivals "hang their balls in the pool".
"I don't know what came over him," German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck told the Abendzeitung newspaper.
"He should really think harder about what he says, especially when it's about his colleagues."
Vettel's countryman Nico Rosberg was particularly critical of the 'balls' comments, and he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper he stands by his harsh rebuke.
"I did it very consciously," the Mercedes driver said.
"His criticism was directed at all of us, and so also at my boys. It was incorrect.
"I could have gone just to him and said 'Sebastian, that was shit', but to me it was important that more people heard it than just him and me," added Rosberg.
Not surprisingly, the Red Bull camp is standing by its world champion.
"His message was just that we are always the last to leave the paddock, and you could easily check," Dr Helmut Marko told Sport Bild.
But also some of Vettel's rivals are not quite as critical as Rosberg.
Force India's Adrian Sutil said: "Maybe they are not working harder than the rest of us, but they are definitely doing something better than us."
McLaren's Jenson Button, however, suggested the real problem is Vettel's attitude.
"The problem is that when you're ahead, winning races and championships, you're thinking differently -- but it always comes to an end."
Rosberg's Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, however, stirred the pot some more when he was asked why Red Bull and Vettel are dominating.
"Maybe they have more resources. Maybe they have more people. Maybe they have more money.
"Maybe they're working for more hours than they are allowed -- who knows?" said the 2008 world champion, hinting Red Bull might be breaching the resource restriction agreement rules.
Marko hit back: "Hamilton should look very closely into how many people are working on his engine."
F1 legend Alain Prost played down suggestions he might be depressed that 26-year-old Vettel is about to equal his career-long achievement of four world titles.
"The present has nothing to do with the past," the Frenchman told Spain's El Pais.
"Now, if you have a good car and a good team, you know you're up there."
Finally, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso had some advice for Vettel about how to deal with his current unpopularity.
"When I was world champion, the fans booed me," he recalled.
"When I wasn't winning anymore, I was suddenly popular. But I'd rather win than be loved," Alonso insisted.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Gutierrez sheds 'conservative' approach to Formula One
Next article Whitmarsh keeps 'wild' Alonso rumours in headlines
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Lewis Hamilton
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
21 h
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
Ferrari
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
WEC
WEC
Monza
12 h
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
12 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
59 min
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe