Vettel takes blame for ‘unfortunate spin’ in Bahrain GP

Sebastian Vettel has taken full responsibility for his costly spin while battling Formula 1 rival Lewis Hamilton during the Bahrain Grand Prix. 

Vettel’s race was ruined by a spin while tussling with Hamilton in the closing stages in Bahrain. Moments after Hamilton had swept around the outside of Vettel at Turn 4, the German lost control of his Ferrari and pirouetted. 

The spin caused damage to Vettel’s tyres which subsequently resulted in him losing his front wing a few corners later, forcing him into an unscheduled pit stop before he recovered to a lowly fifth.

"It was difficult,” Vettel admitted. “We all struggled at various points in the race but l really struggled at the start of the race. 

"Overall, there was not the pace l wanted to have to have today. Not sure why and then on top, I had the mistake with the spin, so not a good evening.”

Asked if the increased wind strength on race day had played a part in his spin, Vettel replied: “It probably didn’t help. 

“It was turning into a tailwind in that corner the whole race. I don’t know, maybe the fact that Lewis was just ahead, being sheltered… I don’t know. 

“But I lost the car very suddenly and once I spun it was obviously too late. It was unfortunate that we had so much damage with the tyres, which caused the front wing to fail. It was not great.

“I am happy for the team but it was a disappointing day overall - starting at the front and not finishing [there] is not what we wanted.”

Hamilton, who went on to claim his 74th career victory after profiting from Charles Leclerc’s cruel late engine issue, commented: “I’m not sure what happened to Seb. I assume he got on the gas too early.”

LAP 38/57: Vettel spins as he tussles with Hamilton! #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/jyKmzgh8BY

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 31, 2019

2016 F1 world champion and Sky Sports F1 pundit Nico Rosberg added: ”Vettel is continuing what he was doing last year, messing it up again, spinning around again in a battle. It's unbelievable that it keeps on happening to him.

“He was always cracking under pressure last year when the pressure was on and we saw exactly the same Vettel today in a wheel-to-wheel battle. 

“You have to say the wind was strong, but he was trying to put the power down too aggressively and off he went once again as always last year, spun it off and ruined the whole weekend.”