Breaking news
Formula 1
Vettel: Downforce "hole" a factor in "weird" spins
Sebastian Vettel thinks the downforce "hole" left by rival Formula 1 cars in battle could be a factor in explaining his series of "weird" spins this year.
Jonathan Noble Roberto Chinchero
Edited: Oct 25, 2018, 6:24 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Ferrari driver's world championship hopes have been dented by a number of incidents in recent races where he has come off worse in wheel-to-wheel combat.
In Italy he spun after clashing with Lewis Hamilton, then spun again in Japan after a moment with Max Verstappen, and his hopes of victory in Austin last weekend were dashed when he lost out in a fight with Daniel Ricciardo.
The similar nature of the three spins – where he has lost out despite being the car on the inside – has prompted theories that there may be a technical explanation as to why Vettel has always hit trouble.
Speaking ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, the German said he suspected that part of the answer comes from his Ferrari losing much of its downforce as it is in the wake of another car on the outside.
"Maybe I need to try the outside next time, maybe I don't spin," said Vettel, when asked if there was any explanation for why his spins were all similar.
"Obviously you want to have the inside to the corner, that doesn't change. But I don't know. The closer you are to another car, you lose some downforce, and obviously the spins I had were all quite weird because there was not much I could have done [differently].
"It is not like I had gone in too fast or would have spun on my own at that speed, not at all.
"So I guess there must be some sort of hole or something being on the inside of a car in that position. Obviously on all three occasions I wasn't clearly ahead, at best side-by-side, so as I said, maybe next time I try the outside."
Vettel admits, however, that the run of incidents will prompt him to be mindful about avoiding a repeat if he finds himself battling hard again.
"The main thing is that fundamentally I didn't try to do anything silly or stupid," he said. "I wasn't hard-headed trying to do something that would never work.
"Obviously now it has happened a couple of times, too much. So next time there will be a gap, I am sure I will go for a gap, but surely it is in the back of your head trying to keep the car facing the right direction."
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 Sainz working to get early McLaren F1 test
Next article Alonso's exit a lesson for F1, says Sainz
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement
Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future
More from
Ferrari
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Latest news
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
1 h
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
3 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
4 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
5 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
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