(Frederic Le Floc'h /DPPI for Renault Sport F1)
Former world champion Mika Hakkinen has criticized reigning quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel over the German's failure to obey team orders. In China last weekend, Vettel was asked by his engineer to let team mate Daniel Ricciardo past him however, after asking what tyre's Ricciardo was on the German replied 'Tough Luck' upon hearing that he was on the same tyre as the German.
It was not the first time that the German had failed to obey a team order. There was the infamous Multi 21 incident with Mark Webber in Malaysia last season. At that race Vettel was heard on the radio saying: 'Mark is too slow, get him out of the way'.
Vettel has had the measure of his previous team mate's and has now come up again Ricciardo in the sister Red Bull who has been able to out-qualify and out race him this season and Hakkinen, who won the championship in 1998 and 99 believes it is only a matter of time before Vettel's actions will come back to haunt him. Writing in his column for Hermes, the Finn stated:
'Vettel is behaving in a way that will sooner or later hurt himself as such things one remembers when he wants to change teams'.
Hakkinen's comments come as Vettel appears to be struggling with the set-up of the new RB10, whereas Ricciardo has found a sweet spot with the car. Despite his struggles however Vettel is ahead of Ricciardo in the championship and has secured a podium finish.
The few Grand Prix are going to be extremely interesting in determining which one of the Red Bull driver's will have the upper hand going into the second half of the 2014 season.
©Ben Johnston 2014
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