Pedro De la Rosa said that Ferrari "failed to protect" Vettel



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Former Formula 1 driver, Pedro de la Rosa, is associated with Ferrari's growing criticism for supporting or not supporting Sebastian Vettel during a crucial phase of the 2018 World Championship.

David Coulthard expressed similar views earlier this week, saying the Scuderia had not supported Vettel in the same way that Mercedes rallied to Lewis Hamilton.

"Things like these have put them on the back," suggested the former Red Bull driver. "They can not deny that some strategic decisions have played against Vettel."

Coulthard's feelings have now been picked up by de la Rosa, who was a Ferrari test rider in 2013 and 2014 after 104 Grand Prix starts with Arrows, Jaguar, Sauber, HRT and McLaren.

"Ferrari had a car at the same level as Mercedes for the first time in the hybrid era," de la Rosa told the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial.

"But Vettel's mistakes, coupled with the fact that Ferrari did not protect him, made him lose the title of world champion."

Asked to explain what he meant by "protect," the 47-year-old said the team was wrong not to publicly support their driver when he was attacked by the media for have made costly mistakes.

"In the life of a driver, when you make a mistake, but especially at Ferrari, the team has to protect you," he explained.

"If it is not the case, it is very difficult for the pilot to handle the pressure generated by his own error."

The most embarrassing moment of 2018 for Vettel is when he escaped from an easy lead at Hockenheim when a light rain started to fall and made track conditions slippery than expected.

"I remember that when it crashed in Germany, it was a very hard blow for Vettel with a very big mistake," de la Rosa said. "But I did not see a very strong defense from the pilot, I did not see it.

"Then came Monza, when Hamilton passed him dramatically and won the race.

Mexico Grand Prix winner, Lewis Hamilton (GBR), Mercedes AMG F1, wins the World Championship in closed yard with Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari.

"I think that given the pressure Vettel was undergoing, I expected more public support from the team.

"Maybe he had it [the support] From inside the Rosa, "admitted Rosa. But it should have been public to relieve the pressure, especially from the Italian press.

"In times like these, it's harder to win with Ferrari," said the Spaniard. "When it starts to go wrong, it's very difficult to have concentration and a cool head at Ferrari."

After losing the driver's title after the Mexican Grand Prix, Ferrari still has a small chance of winning the constructor title in the last two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

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