Sebastian Vettel has denied his lack of an attack on Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi was intentional.
The German was closing fast on the leading quartet of the two Mercedes’ and Red Bulls after a late second pit-stop for the supersoft tyres.
After clearing both Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, he didn’t have a clear-cut opportunity to pass the new world champion, and initial comments had suggested that perhaps the Ferrari driver had stayed behind on purpose.
“It was a difficult situation in the end with Lewis playing some dirty tricks,” Vettel said over the radio after passing the chequered flag.
Later in the press conference, however, the four-time world champion squashed that theory claiming his sole aim was to win the race.
“I did what I could,” he said. “Following two cars, you slide and the tyres get hot.
“My interest, once I passed Max, was to win the race, bearing in mind they are fighting for the championship. Lewis was trying to back Nico into rest of pack. But I couldn’t get past them.”
Vettel would then suggest Hamilton was actually hampering efforts for a car behind to make a move on Rosberg.
“Behind Nico, I was faster due to fact Lewis was slowing down, but they were very, very quick down the straights. With Red Bull, it was easier as Max didn’t have DRS, whereas Nico did.
“[On the] Second straight I had a look, but Nico defended well. I couldn’t try something stupid because Lewis was just ahead – if I dived inside or outside, I had the risk of hitting Lewis. It was critical and I saw Max coming back.”
Finally the 29-year-old praised his fellow countryman on becoming the third German to become F1 champion.
“I think in my point of view you don’t win a championship by luck, Nico won today and he is a deserved champion,” he claimed.
“Sometimes you might have unfortunate or fortunate situations with your car, but sometimes you have better years or worse years, and it is Nico’s day – we owe it to him as a deserved champion.”
