Breaking news
Formula 1
Vettel says reverse grid races "completely wrong"
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel believes the idea of introducing reverse grids in Formula 1 is "completely wrong".
Adam Cooper
Edited: Sep 17, 2020, 8:30 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Plans to have qualifying races at some events based on the reverse of the current world championship order were rejected by the teams last year.
However, F1 boss Ross Brawn wants to revive the idea after the mixed-up order at the Italian GP contributed to an exciting race, with Lewis Hamilton trying to come through the field after taking a penalty.
In theory, under the new Concorde Agreement new ideas can be passed into the regulations with the agreement of just eight of the 10 teams.
"I think it's completely wrong," said Vettel. "Obviously it's a testimony that if you are pushing in that direction that you have failed to come up with regulations and tools that bring the field more together, and make racing better on track.
"As a reminder, we had new front wing regulations which cost everybody a fortune, but ultimately haven't changed much in terms of racing. I think it would be wrong."
Vettel pointed out that the new technical regulations, postponed by a year from 2021, are intended to improve the show.
"The hopes are on 2022, I guess, for the regulation changes. But I think we need to fix that and address the main points, rather than try to play the lottery.
"I think it's just against the element of sport and competition, so as a competitor, I think as much as I don't like other people to win, I have to accept if other people win, or do a better job.
"Therefore I think it would be wrong in the name of sport to try and mix things up that way."
Read Also:
Williams driver George Russell has also expressed his opposition to the idea, suggesting that the drivers in slower cars would be overtaken so easily that they would be made to look "stupid" by the pacesetters,
"I am against it to be honest," said Russell. "The fact is that we're in the slowest car on the grid, or one of the slowest cars on the grid, and we would get eaten alive.
"We would be defending like crazy to try and hold the faster cars off who are behind us, and as drivers, you'll be made to look a little bit stupid, because ultimately you're battling against guys in cars much, much quicker than yours, who can brake 10 metres later into a corner, who can lunge you from really far back.
"If I was in the one of the top cars, I would actually really want it, because it would make those guys look like heroes, lunging drivers from miles back, purely because they're in a superior car
"Obviously I know we would probably get some points, or get a good result at some point with a reverse grid. But for our image, not just me and Nicholas [Latifi], but the Haas guys, the Alfa guys, it's just impossible to race cars that are so much faster than yours. That's where I stand."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Banned! A video history of six-wheeled F1 cars
Next article McLaren: No early driver swap while rivals face "disruption"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 10, 2024
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
More from
Sebastian Vettel
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
WEC
WEC 15 d
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
Sebastian Vettel reveals why BMW didn't want him – but Red Bull did
Formula 1
Formula 1 15 d
Sebastian Vettel reveals why BMW didn't want him – but Red Bull did
Latest news
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 8 min
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
41 min
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
IndyCar 2026 season review: Juncos Hollinger Racing
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 44 min
IndyCar 2026 season review: Juncos Hollinger Racing
Indy NXT unveils 15-race 2027 schedule with four doubleheaders
Indy NXT
IndL Indy NXT 49 min
Indy NXT unveils 15-race 2027 schedule with four doubleheaders
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe