F1: Radio Problems Thwart Vettel

Formula 1

F1: Radio Problems Thwart Vettel

Sebastian Vettel struggled in Malaysia...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted March 25, 2012 Sepang (MAS)

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB8 Renault, arrives in the pit lane with a puncture at Sepang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 25th 2012. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Sebastian Vettel’s race in Malaysia was compromised by a radio problem even before a clash with Narain Karthikeyan cost him a place in the points.

Despite having to rely on the pit board Vettel was heading for fourth place when the incident gave him a puncture. The tire also damaged a brake duct with led to left rear brake overheating. The team tried to get him to stop the car in the closing laps for safety reasons, but he didn’t hear the message, and carried on to finish 11th.

“Most crucially we lost radio communication and that makes it very difficult in these conditions to know what’s going on,” said the German. “Nonetheless we did our maximum today and got up to fourth. To then lose the race how I did is very frustrating. Some people need to look more where they are going. Today it was crucial to come in at the right time.

“Having no radio meant we were delayed getting the messages, and I didn’t hear anything from the team at the end. There were problems with the car after the incident, but I wanted to see the checkered flag. There were no points for me today. Before the incident with HRT the way the race had unfolded was good for us I think, so it’s frustrating to lose the race like that.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.