Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene says Sebastian Vettel made “two big mistakes” during the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
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The four-time world champion started second on the grid in Sakhir, but costly mistakes meant the former Red Bull driver finished outside the podium for the first time this season.
Vettel ran wide at Turn 1 in the opening laps and allowed Nico Rosberg to pass, before making another mistake late in the race to allow Rosberg back through after Vettel regained position in the pits.
Arrivabene said it was clear Vettel’s own errors had hampered his race, but said it was important the team did not forget the German’s efforts in the previous three races.
“It was not complicated,” Arrivabene is quoted as saying by F1i.
“We had a clear strategy for the two drivers and then Seb made two little mistakes. The big one was at the beginning so we were obliged to change the strategy for Seb. Kimi, we told to follow our strategy. At a certain point he was not really convinced and we said ‘no, we stay as we are’. And he was brave enough and disciplined enough to follow. It was a good result.
“Regarding Seb, I have to say he made two big mistakes but we don’t have to forget what he has done up to now. He won one race and two podiums so sometimes it happens. We are humans, thank God and that is the beauty of the sport. So we can continue our development and that’s it.”
Defending champion Lewis Hamilton took out the win to extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.
Hamilton (93 points) holds a 27 point lead over teammate Nico Rosberg (66), with the German holding a slender lead over third placed Vettel (65).
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