I threw it away, admits Vettel

MONTREAL, June 13, 2011 (AFP) - Sebastian Vettel conceded he had made a mistake that had left him disappointed after finishing second behind triumphant Jenson Button in Sunday's dramatic Canadian Grand Prix. 

The 23-year-old German came home second for Red Bull after Button of McLaren swept past him on the final lap at the rain-hit event that was suspended for two hours mid-race.

"Of course, I'm disappointed," said the defending champion and current runaway leader of this year's title race.

"I think it was a very difficult race from start to finish and we led every single lap except the last one. I think I was probably too conservative when I was in the lead after the last Safety Car, and I didn't open the gap enough.

"I was trying to hold the gap to the cars behind and then I saw Jenson coming through. I was pushing and I think it would have been enough until the end, but obviously it was not because I made a mistake.

"It's clearly down to me. I locked up the rear a little bit. What you have to do then is open up the car going a bit straighter and when there's only one line, I ended up in the wet.

"It was quite easy then for him to pass, but I think it was a good day today. It was a difficult race, easy to do mistake and we've seen a lot of cars not finishing so it's good points.

"If you have got it in your hands and then you give it away it's not the sweetest feeling but, all in all, it was a good for us here."

His Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber finished third -- after a late move past Michael Schumacher -- despite being involved in a collision with Button's McLaren team-mate and compatriot Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.

"I think Lewis thought the chequered flag was in Turn Three," said Webber.

"We made contact and it is not easy - I think it was a bit clumsy early in the race.

"I lost a lot of positions, managed to get them all back, decided to pit and put another set of full extremes on before the suspended race."

That decision to put on new wet tyres just before a long red flag suspension proved costly as several other drivers switched tyres.

Webber added: "(Kamui) Kobayashi, the two Renaults and (Paul) di Resta, guys I passed already, they got me with a free pit-stop with the suspended race and a new set of tyres.

"I got back past them and with a dry line appearing it was difficult to pull those moves off. I then decided to roll the dice, decided to put the dry tyres on.

"I knew parts of the circuit were going to be tricky and then if I got on grass it is all over. I then arrived on the back of Michael, we had a reasonable battle getting the dry line in the last chicane.

"Eventually we got it, but JB arrived. He was very, very quick and I think ultimately even if I had got Michael earlier, he would have got me as well. "In the end this is the result we all deserved today. Seb did a phenomenal
job but it's easy to make a mistake in those conditions."