Marko defends Vettel and warns the smaller teams

The incident between Sebastian Vettel and Narain Karthikeyan during the Malaysian Grand Prix continues to spark discussion, and this time it’s Helmut Marko, advisor at Red Bull Racing, who reacted on the microphone of Servus TV, an Austrian television channel: « We told our team manager to speak to Marussia and Hispania (HRT) to tell their drivers to be simply more attentive. » A precaution he justifies by the slowness of these teams, which have been racing in the top discipline since 2010 without a similar incident occurring, or at least without as much resonance: « They are driving in a different championship, they are six or eight seconds slower, and therefore they must watch their mirrors more than they do. »

Just as comfortable moving through controversies as a water strider on the surface of a pond, Helmut Marko is keen to defend his protégé, accused of not containing his anger following that race incident: « You are in a race, you see a chance to be third: you are naturally upset because it’s human. I think we can understand an emotion like this. These 12 points that Vettel lost could be crucial for the World Championship. »

Rebuked by Narain Karthikeyan, who had called him a “cry baby” in response to various insults from the Red Bull driver towards him, Sebastian Vettel wanted to defend himself: “I lost a solid fourth place, so it’s obviously disappointing. Sometimes you let your emotions show, and I don’t think there’s anything to be ashamed of. It’s part of the sport.” A response that will likely not extinguish the debates, despite the fact that the sports authority ruled in favor of the German, penalizing Karthikeyan by 20 seconds after the Malaysian race, and that a sanction for his behavior during and after the Grand Prix does not seem particularly timely.

The double World Champion prefers to focus on the start of his season and foresee a better future for Red Bull: « Of course, I would have preferred a slightly better start to the season, but it’s a long season. We have a very good car and I still have my chances: it’s always the goal, to fight for the title » he declared while receiving the Grand Prix Serge Kampf from the Academy of Sports, rewarding the most outstanding sports achievement in the world the previous year, by a French or foreign athlete, for his 2011 season, in Paris. « A few hours ago, I was in the simulator, preparing for China and Bahrain. We hope to have some good improvements, but we need to validate that on the track. »