An apologetic Sebastian Vettel admits he should have allowed Robert Kubica through and settled for third place in the Australian Grand Prix.
Vettel appeared to be on course for a podium finish in the opening grand prix of the season but his hopes of picking up points were dashed in the final stages of the race becasue of a crash with Kubica.
The BMW driver looked like he had already passed Vettel's Toro Rosso when the two cars made contact and they both crashed out of the race.
Vettel concedes, with the benefit of hindsight, that "maybe I should have let him go".
"We were in second and a strong position, but then, a couple of laps from the end, I had a stupid racing accident with Robert (Kubica)," he said.
"At the time I turned in I was ahead, but I couldn't keep up speed in the corner and Robert was on a harder tyre, so was much quicker. At the time we collided he was in front, but I had nowhere to go, I couldn't stop the car, or turn to the right and my tyres were gone.
"It's a shame as it meant the end of the race for both of us. Should I have let him go? You always want to fight. Maybe I should have said let him go and bring third back home, but that's life. I tried to defend and, up to the mid-corner, I had reason, but then I had no grip to avoid a collision."
Although he is "sorry" for spoiling a good start, Vettel believes the team have every reason to be happy with their performance in Melbourne.
"I'm sorry to the team and also to Robert, as it didn't just mean the end of my race, but also his.
"The team did a good job, we were working very hard over the winter and the car seems to be very good. We had good pace today, so overall we have a reason to smile."
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