Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel said both he and Mick Schumacher “should have done better” after the pair crashed into each other in the closing stages of the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.
Close mates and compatriots, Vettel and Schumacher’s relationship is perhaps one of the most wholesome things in F1 with the Aston Martin driver acting as a mentor to the second-year Haas driver, just as Mick’s dad, Michael, was for Vettel when he was racing.
With Schumacher running in the top-10 on lap 53 of the 57-lap race, the 23-year-old appeared likely to score points for the first time in his F1 career.
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Battling Esteban Ocon for P9, Schumacher ran wide on turn 17, allowing Vettel through. As both cars approached turn 1, Schumacher set out to move down the inside in an attempt to regain the position, but collided with the inside of Vettel’s AMR22 as he turned into the corner.
The impact forced Vettel out of the race and Schumacher to the back of the grid with a damaged front wing.
Prior to the incident, Vettel had been delivering an excellent recovery drive after starting the race from pit lane because of pre-race fuel temperature issues.
Schumacher crossed the line in 15th position, only ahead of Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris and Zhou Guanyu who did not finish.
The stewards adjudged neither driver to be at fault but Vettel said after the race that both he and Schumacher “should have done better”.
“It is obviously a shame we both made contact and both missed scoring points,” he said.
“We should have done better, I need to look again.”
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It was almost another pointless race for Aston Martin with Vettel’s teammate Lance Stroll receiving the chequered flag in 12th place.
But after post-race penalties were dished out to Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo – both for leaving the track and gaining an advantage – Stroll was promoted to P10 and scored a point.
After a poor start to the season, Aston Martin remains ninth in the constructors’ championship with six points.