Small mistake but big impact: Vettel

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY: Even though Sebastian Vettel has won four Formula One titles and 51 races, he is still prone to worrying lapses of concentration.

The Ferrari driver accepted his small mistake at Sunday’s German Grand Prix cost his team in a big way, and gifted Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes a victory they could hardly have expected.

Leading both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships before the race, Vettel and Ferrari are now behind in both.

Leading from pole position with only 15 laps to go, Vettel misjudged a routine entry into a turn, slid off the track and slammed into the barriers.

Even worse, Hamilton profited from his mistake to reclaim the championship lead by 17 points.

“I threw it away. It was my mistake. We had the pace and we controlled the race,” Vettel said. “We had the race in the bag.”

Vettel, who made key mistakes

last season as Hamilton secured the title, seemed keen to use the rain as a factor for his crash.

“It’s not like tonight I’ll have difficulties to fall asleep, because of what I’ve done . We didn’t need the rain,” he said. “It was a small mistake but a big impact on the race. A tiny bit too late on the

brakes, I locked the rears and I couldn’t turn. It wasn’t the biggest mistake I’ve done, but one of the mostly costly ones.”

“I realised quickly that it was over,” said Vettel, who again played down his mistake. “I think it feels better if it’s spectacular, because then you’ve done something

really wrong.” He added that “I didn’t do much wrong” but his performance was “not enough to finish the race.”

Vettel and Hamilton are both chasing a fifth F1 crown to move level with Juan Manuel Fangio and go two behind record-holder Michael Schumacher.