Vettel hits back at Verstappen ‘cheat’ claims

Sebastian Vettel feels Max Verstappen’s claims that Ferrari may have cheated with their engines this season shows his immaturity. The Italian marque have held the advantage with straight-line speed in 2019 but results show that is not always the recipe for success. Charles Leclerc sits third in the drivers’ standings while Ferrari team-mate Vettel is fifth – one spot and five points behind Red Bull’s Verstappen – as Mercedes have once again dominated proceedings. Eyebrows have been raised at the pace Ferrari have generated at times this year but, following a technical directive issued by the FIA regarding fuel flow systems, they were not as fast at the US Grand Prix last time out. That prompted Verstappen to suggest that the Scuderia had been exploiting F1 engine rules and went as far as calling it cheating. Vettel has played down his rival’s comments but does not think it shows the Dutch flyer in a particularly good light. “I don’t think anybody in the team took it personally,” he said. “I think it’s not professional and not mature, but I can also see that you are probably interested in me answering back. “I don’t have much interest in that, other than saying that for us, the best way to answer in a way is to probably go back to normal.”