Motorsport: Vettel still angry over Mexico demotion

Sebastian Vettel on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico. Photo / Getty Images

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel may have apologised for his blue language at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix but two weeks on he is still upset at being denied a podium place to the advantage of Australian Daniel Ricciardo..

"I don't agree with the decision (in Mexico," Vettel told a news conference on Friday ahead of the weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

"I moved over once to defend and then I gave (Red Bull's) Daniel Ricciardo enough room. It looks worse than it was."

Vettel was penalised well after the race for how he held off Ricciardo late in the race which saw him dropped from third to fourth - with the Australian being promoted to the podium position.

But Vettel himself had only been given third after the race concluded as Ricciardo's team-mate Max Verstappen was first penalised for leaving the track in holding off an attack from the German, who had to sprint to make the podium ceremony.

"From an outside point of view, for fans and drivers, you don't want to wait so long for the outcome to be announced," Ricciardo admitted.

Both Red Bull drivers also expressed frustration that Verstappen was punished while Lewis Hamilton escaped censure for driving his Mercedes across the corner from the start having locked up from pole position.

"It's easy to suggest that decisions are made inconsistently," Formula One race director Charlie Whiting said. "But no two incidents are the same so explanation is needed."

And Whiting was also relaxed about forgiving Vettel for an expletive-filled rant on team radio in which he was one of the targets.

"Sebastian apologised to me after the race for the bad language and that's enough," Whiting said. "Things happen in the heat of the moment."

Vettel also took the chance to apologise again in public at the press conference.

"I'm sorry for that I have said. I was not so happy at this point in time," stated Vettel. "I regret what I said."