Vettel ‘happy’ to fight Kimi, doesn’t expect team orders

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Sebastian Vettel 'happy' to fight three cars

Sebastian Vettel 'happy' to fight three cars

Sebastian Vettel insists he’s happy racing team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, saying he doesn’t expect Ferrari to issue team orders in his favour.

Last Sunday it was Raikkonen who started the Italian Grand Prix from pole position with Vettel second on the grid.

The German tried to overtake his team-mate on the opening lap but Raikkonen held his ground.

This meant fell into the clutches of title rival Lewis Hamilton with the two making contact as the Mercedes driver overtook the Ferrari.

Vettel spun and dropped to the back of the field.

The driver stated in the immediate aftermath that he wasn’t happy with Ferrari’s tactics.

“I’m not particularly happy with the way Ferrari managed things on Saturday,” he told Ziggo Sport.

“It should’ve been me starting from pole position.

“For me, it’s clear: I have to race three cars, including my team-mate.”

The German, though, has subsequently stated he’s “happy” fighting against both Mercedes cars as well as Raikkonen.

Asked if he felt disadvantaged by the Raikkonen battle, he said: “I don’t know. Obviously I can see the points of the questions coming up.

“But for me it’s pretty clear: I’m happy to fight three cars, I’m happy to actually fight 19 cars.

“I think I’ve never been in a different position to that. That’s fine. I don’t expect anything else.”

Sunday’s result means Vettel now trails Hamilton by 30 points with 175 still in play.

He also refuted suggestions that Ferrari should have set up Sunday’s start in his favour.

“I think we are old enough and we don’t need to go through the start,” he said.

“I’m doing my job and I’m prepared to race everybody.

“I was trying to use my chances in the first corner, a little bit in the second chicane, but it didn’t work.

“Then it was a bit unfortunate with how things turned out.

“Everybody’s free to have whatever approach they want. For us, it’s pretty clear and straightforward.”