Sebastian Vettel says it was obvious drivers needed to slow for the yellow flags after Valtteri Bottas’s crash.
Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free
Pole sitter Max Verstappen is under investigation after admitting he did not reduce speed when he passed the yellow flags at the end of the session.
Vettel confirmed he did ease off but declined to speculate on whether Verstappen should face a penalty. “I am not the police so don’t ask me,” he said.
“To me it was clearly double yellow. I could see Valtteri in the barrier and people were on the track helping, so you have to lift.”
The Ferrari driver qualified third behind Verstappen and team mate Charles Leclerc. He believes he might have had a chance at pole without the yellow-flag interruption on his final run.
“It wasn’t ideal having the yellow flag, otherwise it could have been a better session for me.
“I had it in my hands on the first run. After a very strong first sector I became probably too cautious in sector two, lost a bit of rhythm and then was too aggressive at the end. I snapped badly at the last corner.
“I was quite confident I could make up a lot of time on the second run, but then the yellow flag came out. It happens.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
2019 F1 season
- Crying in the Melbourne car park at 2019 grand prix was my career low – Ocon
- McLaren Racing reports reduced £71 million loss in 2019
- Kvyat: Hockenheim podium last year was “my biggest achievement” so far
- How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
- “He smashed my office door”: 23 must-see moments from ‘Drive to Survive’ season two
Browse all 2019 F1 season articles