Sebastian Vettel has reaffirmed his commitment to Ferrari as hopes for a fifth world title appeared to suffer a fatal blow in Japan.
The German finished sixth in Suzuka after a mistake to use intermediates in qualifying left him ninth on the grid and then a collision with Max Verstappen while running fourth dropped him to the back of the field.
Ahead, Lewis Hamilton went on to serenely take his sixth win in seven races and now need to outscore Vettel by eight points in Austin to clinch a third straight F1 crown but the 31-year-old insists his faith in the Scuderia remains.
“I will not leave Ferrari,” he told German publication Auto Bild. “I’m part of the team and I want that to be the case and nothing else.
“I think we have a lot of potential. Of course, the last races did not go well for us and we made it too easy for Mercedes, but even so the spirit within the team is good.”
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Many considered Vettel to blame for the incident with Verstappen at Spoon with a bold move up the inside, but Seb argued it was the Dutchman who was overaggressive with his defence.
In his comments to the team over the radio after crossing the finish line, however, he seemed more accepting of his role in causing the contact.
“OK not much to say,” he said. “I think enough has been said.
“I don’t know. If I don’t go for that gap and the gap was there then might as well stay at home.
“Sorry for the result.”