Vettel: Losing your temper is no longer excused in F1

MONACO – Sebastian Vettel will have to keep his emotions in

check if he wants to win the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix the second

straight year on Sunday as the German Ferrari driver readily admits

that losing your temper is no longer considered cool.

Vettel told dpa in an interview conducted at the recent Spanish Grand

Prix that driving fast and emotional outbursts are not really

compatible.

The four-time world champion also agrees that the human side is

losing out at a time when teams and drivers are thriving for

perfection.

"I think that losing it is no longer excused these days. What used to

be normal and is retroactively considered cultic – such as

footballers who lost their cool after a match – is not normal any

more today," Vettel said.

"Emotions, that's what losing your temper is about, can be good when

you win and are happy on the podium. But there are also bad ones when

everything goes the wrong way."

Vettel knows from experience, as incidents include him insulting Red

Bull's Max Verstappen and race director Charlie Whiting at the 2016

race in Mexico, and deliberately driving into the Mercedes of title

rival Lewis Hamilton at last year's Azerbaijan Grand Prix when he

believed the Briton had brake-tested him.

"I had to answer questions whether I couldn't control my aggression

and temper and whether I required therapy," Vettel said in reference

to the Hamilton incident.

"Was it right? No it was wrong. It was a mistake of mine. Did I gain

anything from it? No, I shot myself in the foot because otherwise I

would have won the race. So I drew my conclusions."

But he also said there is a thin line between showing too much

emotion and none at all, which could eventually possibly even harm

the sport.

"Many things with us or in other sports happen intuitively. And that

is good. If everything came from the brain and the computer the human

element would be lacking. Then it would be boring," Vettel said.

Vettel said Formula One is "a little over-regulated" but not the only

sport which is undergoing changes in this area, with money the main

reason.

"The reason is clear, it is about lots of money. You want to make the

sport fair and give everyone a chance. But certain things are not

black and white, you need tolerance and understanding," he said

All statements and actions of Vettel and the other drivers in and out

of their cars are highlighted as no outburst goes unnoticed.

But the 30-year-old appears calmer this season after a decade in the

sport, with Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene also telling

him to be a little more relaxed in his pursuit of a first world title

with Ferrari.

"I have been around for a while, and at this level. It is normal that

there are always situations which upset you more than others. But I

believe you learn how to deal with certain things. You know you can't

change them," Vettel said.

dpa

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