Ferrari F1 driver Vettel defends first-corner Malaysian GP move

Vettel launched an attack down the inside of Max Verstappen into the first corner, but locked up and hit Rosberg, spinning the Mercedes around.

Vettel was instantly eliminated but Rosberg continued and salvaged third to reclaim the championship lead after F1 team-mate Lewis Hamilton's retirement.

Rosberg said his fellow German was "out of control", while the stewards took a dim view and handed Vettel a three-place penalty for this weekend's race at Suzuka.

When it was put to Vettel, who phoned Rosberg up to discuss the incident, that it seemed like he was driving differently to usual, he said: "I'm a bit surprised you say you've never seen me like this.

"I've attacked quite a lot of cars in all the starts that I did in my life into Turn 1 and most of the time got away with it.

"Sometimes I didn't and I guess last time was one of the occasions where it just didn't work."

Vettel believes he was in control at Turn 1 because he feels he made the corner.

"I went to the inside and obviously was able to go side-by-side with Max," he said.

"As it turned out, I was probably a little bit too late in comparison to the first two cars but I made the corner, it's not a problem.

"I'm not shooting straight like crazy, so of course it is a risk and in that case it didn't get rewarded.

"It was quite bad for Nico because he had nothing to do with it.

"I phoned him up straight after and explained to him my point of view but sometimes these things happen."

Ferrari has struggled for performance as the season has gone on, falling behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship.

When asked if he felt that put him outside his comfort zone, Vettel said no, but added: "Well I see where you might come from.

"I don't think there is so much to analyse, or so much to go through, and other than that you try to squeeze everything you can from the car at any time.

"Sometimes you find yourself overdriving.

"I mean it's not particular this year, last year or the year before or whatever.

"You obviously try to achieve the best, sometimes you push too hard.

"It's normal, it's human and sometimes you don't push enough so it's about finding the sweet spot in the middle."