Vettel criticizes F1 race director for penalizing him in German Grand Prix

London, July 28 (ANI): Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel has criticized the race director for penalizing him for overtaking Jenson Button that cost him a podium finish at German Grand Prix.

Vettel was given a post-race 20 seconds penalty at Hockenheim for going off the track to overtake Button, demoting him from runner-up to fifth place.s he prepared for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix at Budapest, the Red Bull driver maintained the move was valid, and insisted that he went off line to avoid a collision with Button and not to gain an advantage.

Vettel said he would have given the place back to Button if F1 race director Charlie Whiting had considered it illegal and ordered him to cede, The Sun reports.

Referring to the move, Vettel said: "For me it was fine, that's why I did it. In the end it wasn't fine, which is why I picked up the penalty, I guess. Obviously it would help to get feedback from the race director as soon as possible in that case, or from the team if we could get any idea from the outside.

"The only thing I wanted to do was avoid an accident. Surely if gravel had been there I would not have gone in the gravel. I did what I did, and nothing can change."

Button , however, insisted there was plenty of room on the track for both cars and that Vettel just put his foot down early and took a wider, faster line off the circuit. (ANI)