Sebastian Vettel says he was unable to get close enough to pressure Daniel Ricciardo for the lead at the Monaco Grand Prix despite the Red Bull’s power issues.
An MGU-K failure for Ricciardo early in the second stint of the race appeared to leave the Red Bull driver vulnerable, but Vettel says he was unable to get close enough to mount a serious challenge.
“I could see the light flashing which means that he is clipping, so he’s running out of kinetic energy,” explains Vettel.
“Obviously I was told then that he had a problem. I tried to get close. Obviously if you get too close it doesn’t help for tyres as they start to slide. On the corners where it’s leading onto the straight through the tunnel and on the start-finish straight, there you don’t really need power and he was quicker than us. So he was always able to open a gap and I was never really there.”
Vettel believes that he would have been powerless to keep up with the Red Bull driver without the issue.
“Ultimately I think it would’ve been worse for us without the problem he had because otherwise I think he opens the gap and we can’t really follow,” admits Vettel.
“First stint, he started to push at the end and we couldn’t go at his pace, it was quite clear. We then had to cover for Lewis (Hamilton) and then in the second stint he had the issue so that’s why we were close all race.”
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Patrickl (@patrickl)
27th May 2018, 20:52
I wonder how much time Ricciardo lost because of the issue. He still looked quite fast really. Or at least the guys behind didn’t close up much. But then they probably all decided simply to cruise home since overtaking was never going to happen anyway.
@HoHum (@hohum)
28th May 2018, 2:50
A track like Monaco merely highlights the failings of the design regulations, reduced wing induced downforce might make the cars 5 seconds a lap slower in qualifying but when racing they are 5 seconds+ a lap slower anyway due to “dirty air”, ditto the tyres, the faster the tyres in qualifying the slower the race pace on them.
Jere (@jerejj)
28th May 2018, 11:10
@hohum The significant difference in fuel load Vs. Qualifying is the primary reason the lap times are regularly a lot slower in the races than in the qualifying sessions, though, and that has been the case ever since 2010 (the first season after the ban on in-race refuelling).
Bebana
28th May 2018, 4:09
Now it is turn for power unit of Merz and Red bull to be checked out.
If FIA does not want to put monitoring probes to cars of Red Bull and Merzedes then it is Conspiracy.Toto Wolf is asking for excuses. No, bad air is coming from your Alison and scared and crying baby Lewis and supported by Toto.
Because they are free to attack, suspect, accuse Ferrari. But, where is justice and equilibrium?
FIA should Introduce now Monitoring system on Red Bull and Merzedes car each device for monitoring everything up to the smallest detail whether they comply with their “LAW”.
Red Bull during power loss period in Monaco looked suspicious.
Todfod (@todfod)
28th May 2018, 8:47
Rubbish. You have to have justifiable cause to get the FIA to investigate the issue. Mercedes and Renault power units don’t let unexplained black puffs of smoke out of the back, or have inconsistent electrical readings on FIA supplied measuring instruments. We don’t even know about the extra level on Vettel’s steering wheel.
It’s not like the FIA isn’t monitoring Mercedes and Renault power units, they only put in additional monitoring for Ferrari because some of their solutions are incredibly suspicious and hard to monitor properly. There’s no reason for their complex electrical system with 2 batteries, but yet they have it. There’s no explanation for the black puff of smoke.
Bebana
28th May 2018, 9:01
Ah, that is the point.
Ferrari R&D is working very well and Ferrari has innovations which obviously comply with law and FIA regulations.
We cannot teach all the rest about our protected intellectual property because it is ours.
All otherteams should not only monitor a copy ideas. Cut, copy, paste teams.
Be yourself. Perchè noi samo solo e semplicemente Italiani.
Todfod (@todfod)
28th May 2018, 10:11
If Ferrari’s R&D was working so well .. and working within the rules, then they should have no problem with the FIA monitoring it.
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
28th May 2018, 16:51
Do they?
Nick (@notacop)
28th May 2018, 17:21
@todfod As stated by Charlie multiple times, Ferrari is happy to get monitored. But when he says one day they are fine and the next he wants to check again something is off.
Bebana
29th May 2018, 3:15
At first sight, seeing a man taking a photo of Seb’s car reminded me of a strange fan who entered Ferrari pit illegaly. Then I expected Seb to come out and allow this gray hair man to take photo of both of them, smiling, pretending of beeing happy, followed by the last step: Sebastian signing ceremony. But, it was Mr. Charlie. He wants his work to be recorded by whole world. Any other placeFIA? Procedure?
Psychological pressure on Ferrari…
And Herr Wolff wants in accusations of Ferrari’s “wrongdoings”, personal names to be omitted. If you are guilty and if Lauda is guilty and Allison is making noise, Totto, your crying Lewis will be also mentioned. Since you do not have money for double spending but yes for copy Ferrari, than feel free to buy a pacifier to Lewis before each race, who already wants to prove himself as a designer of roads not fashion definitely.
Raise your head Totto and tell yes I am guilty and be a hero without false smile on your face.
Where are heroes nowdays???
Not, here where you are disturbing all
innovations and betterment for formula uno.