Vettel confronts Kvyat over 'suicidal' driving at Chinese GP

Raikkonen had slid wide into Turn 1 and was then wheel-to-wheel with Vettel when Kvyat came down the inside too.

Vettel took avoiding action and hit Raikkonen, delaying both and causing sufficient damage to the Finn's car to force him to pit.

The German described Kvyat as "a madman" and his move as "suicidal" over team radio, and then erupted at his Red Bull replacement when Kvyat asked about the start in the drivers' room on the way to the podium.

"You ask what happened at the start? If I didn't go to the left, you'd have crashed into us and we'd all three go out," Vettel raged.

"You came like a torpedo."

When Kvyat retorted that he "was racing", Vettel replied: "If I'd kept going on the same line, we'd have crashed."

The argument concluded with Vettel declaring "you were lucky this time" to Kvyat.

In the podium interviews, Vettel admitted it was particularly frustrating because the consequence of the incident had been contact between the two Ferraris.

Vettel recovered to second, passing Kvyat in the final stint, with Raikkonen ending up fifth.

"It's a shame because you don't want the same colour cars touching," said Vettel.

"In the end we were lucky because I could continue, he could continue, but surely not the best result for the team so I'm very sorry for that."

Kvyat remained unrepentant.

"You see a gap, you go for it," he said.

"Yeah, it was a risky move, I agree with Seb, but this kind of move can bring you podiums.

"He's on the podium, I'm on the podium, it's fine.

"I will keep on risking like this, and I hope he respects that."

VETTEL AND KVYAT'S ROW IN FULL

(Kvyat asks Vettel about the start)

Sebastian Vettel: You ask what happened at the start? If I didn't go the left you'd crash into us and we'd all three go out!

Daniil Kvyat: Well...

SV: No, no 'well!' You came like a torpedo!

DK: Well that's racing.

SV: If I keep going the same line then I crash.

DK: Then don't keep going...

SV: But there was a car on the left also, that's why I hit the other car.

DK: I couldn't see all the three cars man, come on. I have only two eyes.

SV: You'll crash driving like that.

DK: But we didn't, so...

SV: Yeah, you didn't! I know it's racing but...you need to expect that when you're packed up it's crazy. You were lucky this time.

DK: Well I'm on the podium, you're on the podium. It's fine.