Vettel: “I didn’t control anything at all”

Sebastian Vettel had to go for his 49th victory with forceps in F1 for his 200th Grand Prix start in Bahrain. Starting on a two-stop strategy, the pilot Ferrari had to revise his plans when Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) returned in his wake while the Mercedes resident had left with medium tires for his second stint.

“I said on the radio about ten laps from the finish that I had full control and it was a lie. I didn't control anything at all, confided the four-time world champion. I didn't think I would make it when I was subsequently informed of Valtteri's times. I was doing the calculations in my car and I told myself that he would be able to take me back. »

Sebastian Vettel was finally able to resist the Finn's attacks to win with a six-tenths lead over the W09 and sign his second consecutive victory after Melbourne (Australia) and have a lead of 17 points over Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), third on the podium.

“We chose to change strategy. It worked but only just, there really wasn't much of a gap at the finish.", added Sebastian Vettel who remembered to wish a good recovery to the mechanic injured during the stop of his teammate Kimi Räikkönen.

Discover the analysis of the Bahrain Grand Prix carried out by our special correspondents in issue 2160 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.