Sebastian Vettel laid the blame firmly on Max Verstappen for their coming together at the Spoon curve during the Japanese Grand Prix.
The German tried what looked to be an ambitious move on the Red Bull driver into the first part of the double left-hander which resulted in both cars banging wheels and the Ferrari eventually spinning.
Dropping to the back of the field, Vettel would recover to sixth but it seems the incident may well be the moment that truly ends his championship fight and the 31-year-old didn’t hold back in his criticism.
“I was obviously pushing to get past but I wasn’t desperate to get past. I knew he had a penalty but I also felt that we were faster,” he explained with some questioning why he risked such a risky pass.
“He was clipping on that straight with the battery and I was catching and I got a good exit. Obviously, the Safety Car helped us to be closer and then the gap was there but as soon as he saw me, he defended.
“I had the inside, but as soon as he realises that somebody is close or next to him he, in my opinion, tries to push when he shouldn’t push anymore,” Vettel claimed
“I mean, look at [the] Kimi [Raikkonen incident], he is off the track and comes back and if Kimi just drives on they collide but it is not always right that the other guy has to move.
“The gap was there, otherwise, I don’t do it. I think I got through the whole field without any trouble, sometimes closer, sometimes with more margin. It is normal that sometimes it gets close but you always leave a space and in that case, I couldn’t go anywhere and then we touched.”
A crucial moment in the grand prix, and the title race…
Lap 8: Seb ? Max#JapaneseGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/pTrYZ4z2uK
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 7, 2018
He concluded with a jibe back at the media for the questions over his judgement in attacking Max at that point, suggesting: “Do you ask him if he should think twice when he defends?”
With a 67-point deficit to Lewis Hamilton in the F1 standings, the Briton could now wrap up the title as soon as two weeks from today in Austin.
Yet despite the persistent difficulties Ferrari have had, Vettel insists fight does remain in those at the Scuderia.
“I find it quite inspirational. You walk in the garage and the guys are all fired up so that has certainly helped,” he said.
“It has not been an easy couple of weeks, this spirit in the team, considering how tough the past couple of weeks have been, is unbroken.
“It [the championship] seems difficult from where we are but what do we have to lose? We give it everything we can.
“I think there are still some important things to understand and learn about the car. Obviously if races go like this then it is a bit of a handover but you know, I think we are trying our utmost to fight and resist and let’s see what the next races bring.
“I think we had our pile of s**t so I don’t think it can grow any bigger.”