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Vettel: Suicidal Seagulls Were “Worst Moment of My Race”

Sebastian Vettel encountered two seagulls on the track during the Canadian Grand Prix. "I didn't know their names, but they were there."
Photo by EPA
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Sebastian Vettel has revealed the odd experience he encountered with two seagulls during the Canadian Grand Prix, which he claimed was the "worst moment of my race."

Leader Vettel locked up at Turn 1 as he steered away from the apex to avoid running over the birds.

He spoke about them with race winner Lewis Hamilton, first in the pre-podium room straight after the race, and then invaded an interview with Hamilton on Sky Sports F1.

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"The lap before the Virtual Safety Car I arrived into Turn 1 and I see this stupid couple of seagulls," said Vettel, who finished runner-up.

"Just sitting there – all relaxed. I'm coming along at speed and my car is like red, it's easy to see, it doesn't blend in like yours [pointing at Hamilton].

"It wasn't a pigeon, it was a seagull, I could see the beak. I didn't know their names, but they were there. It was the worst moment of my race."

Finds out Hamilton's Plan A strategy

While Vettel demanded to be shown a replay of the seagull incident, he cunningly took the opportunity to ask Hamilton what pitstop strategy he'd initially planned.

"We were going to do a two-stop," Hamilton replied. "That was Plan A."

Vettel responded to the presenters: "Yeah, in his shoes, you do the opposite."

Hamilton: "He said 'Plan B' and I was like 'What the hell is Plan B? I don't remember what it is!'"

Sky then showed the incident Vettel was searching for.

"Two seagulls – you see! I had my eyes so deep into the apex, I locked up. Mind the animals!

"Play that again. Can you see they stayed there? That's what really annoyed me. I was doing a hundred and something, and they stay there!

"If you caught those two seagulls you might prove the opposite whatever you ever found out in history about seagulls."

#Seb5: 'I saw this couple of seagulls sitting there all relaxed!and I didn't want to hurt them so I went wide ' pic.twitter.com/fvTnjHag3F
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) June 12, 2016

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