Four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel has defended Ferrari's strategy during the Belgian Grand Prix, following his late tyre drama.
Vettel started the race at Spa-Francorchamps from ninth position on the grid but utilised a one-stop strategy to sit in third position with a handful of laps remaining.
Vettel held the spot until the penultimate lap when his right rear tyre failed at Kemmel, causing the German driver to slip outside of the points-paying positions.
A furious Vettel hit out at Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli while the Italian company suggested that Vettel's one-stop strategy was ambitious.
"Just to make things clear: The team and I decided our strategy for the race together," Vettel said in a statement posted on his official website.
"I support the team and the team supports me. And this is what makes us a team.
"Our strategy was never risky, at any point. The team is not to blame."