Vettel Frustrated After Missing Pole in Korea, Blames Communication With Engineer
Sebastian Vettel criticised Red Bull's pit wall after traffic from Felipe Massa cost him pole position in Korean Grand Prix qualifying, leaving Mark Webber to take the top spot.
Sebastian Vettel ended qualifying for the 2012 Korean Grand Prix in second place behind Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, expressing frustration with his race engineer Guillaume Rocquelin over a lack of communication about traffic in the final session.
Vettel, who was chasing Fernando Alonso for the championship lead, encountered Felipe Massa's Ferrari on his final Q3 run. The German radioed his engineer, known as 'Rocky'—demanding to know why he had not been warned about Massa's position on track. Rocquelin replied, "What was I supposed to say?" The exchange highlighted the pressure within Red Bull as both drivers remained in mathematical contention for the title.
Vettel's title ambitions and team dynamics
Vettel entered the Korean weekend four points behind Alonso after victories in Singapore and Suzuka. His frustration in qualifying reflected the stakes, with only a handful of races left in the 2012 season. Despite being in contention, Red Bull did not instruct Webber to support Vettel's title bid, allowing both drivers to compete freely. Team principal Christian Horner noted that all major contenders were near the front, promising a close race.
After qualifying, Vettel told reporters he was generally satisfied with his earlier runs but cited the incident with Massa as a setback. "The last run (in Q3)... I don’t want to blame it on Felipe. I thought he was coming in but he wasn’t and I caught him in the last sector so I had to back off. It’s not ideal," he said. Dr Helmut Marko later suggested that Massa may have impeded Vettel deliberately, though no formal protest was lodged.
No team orders as championship tightens
Red Bull's refusal to impose team orders kept both Vettel and Webber in play for the drivers' championship. Webber, who started from pole, made no commitment to support Vettel's campaign. Meanwhile, Alonso lined up fourth for Ferrari, maintaining pressure on Red Bull in both championships.
Vettel's disappointment in Korea underscored the fine margins at the sharp end of Formula One qualifying. With the title fight still open and no clear team hierarchy, the outcome of the race, and the championship, remained unpredictable heading into Sunday.
- Vettel was using a private jet to travel between the final races, reportedly at a cost of nearly €250,000, in his push for a third consecutive title.
- Alonso's championship lead was under threat, with Vettel closing the gap after recent wins.
