Sebastian Vettel Denies Similarities Between Ferrari Team Orders and Multi-21

Multi 21 will forever remain one of the blackest marks in the record of Sebastian Vettel. Now, in 2019, Scuderia Ferrari have had to impose team orders between Charles Leclerc and Vettel. However, the German insists that this situation is different to Red Bull’s infamous Multi 21 controversy.

Ferrari have been anything but subtle when using team orders on Vettel and Leclerc this season. Team principal Mattia Binotto has placed faith in his ability in reeling in the Ferrari duo and preventing a civil war.

Unfortunately, it was not enough, if the Russian Grand Prix 2019 was any proof of the pudding. That day, Sebastian Vettel passed Leclerc at the start but refused to give the place back. Apparently, in doing so, he defied a pre-race team agreement and an instruction during the race itself.

Naturally, Vettel’s insolence dug up some skeletons in the closet, namely the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix. On that fateful day, Vettel ignored a Red Bull call not to attack race leader, Mark Webber.

The Mercedes duo received a similar order, but they followed it to the letter, though Rosberg was faster. In all honesty, it was the grimmest podium ever, as Webber and Vettel refuse to speak to each other and Lewis Hamilton just stood there awkwardly.

Back to the present, Vettel denied claims that the Russian GP had undertones of Malaysia 2013. However, he later confessed that what he did was incorrect and accepted the blame.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Sebastian Vettel said, “Inside the car it’s sometimes difficult to know everything, because you cannot see everything.”

“So it depends really the situation. And I don’t think you can stereotype, say ‘he was right, he was wrong’.”

“Obviously if you look back with Mark it was a different situation, because we were working as a team together for many years, I don’t think we worked really well together!”

Vettel is aware that in recent times, a driver cannot afford to be selfish and go for broke. He observed that the modern era of Formula One places more emphasis on the team.