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.