Jenson Button says Sebastian Vettel's "brave" move on the outside of Kevin Magnussen on the final lap of the US Grand Prix proved that F1's future retiree is "still a great racer".
Vettel enjoyed a strong second stint in last Sunday's race at the Circuit of the Americas, even leading the race for two laps ahead of his final pitstop.
But it all went wrong for the German during his switch to the hard tyre when his Aston Martin crews struggled to fit his left-front wheel, a misstep that cost Vettel 16 seconds.
However, from a lowly 14th, Vettel battled his way back into the top-ten to fight Haas' Magnussen for P8.
The two drivers enjoyed a massive last lap scrap, running nose to tail and side by side until Vettel attempted a bold move around the outside of Turn 18 that put him on the inside of Magnussen at the penultimate corner.
Like the thousands of fans in the grandstands, Button was enthralled with Vettel's driving.
"If he’s in the right place and he has a car under him that he likes, he’s still a great racer," the 2009 F1 World Champion told Sky Sports F1.
"That last move against Kevin was one of the best moves I’ve ever seen. And by that I don’t just mean in this grand prix.
"It’s such a brave place, to go around the outside of an F1 car anywhere on a high speed corner is scary.
"If the guy on the inside makes a tiny little error, pushes you off the circuit and you are heading towards the barriers at a very high speed.
"So really, really impressive move and that’s why the excitement it was like he won a race. There’s so much adrenaline in making a move like that stick."
Overtake #124:
Sebastian Vettel on Kevin Magnussen (2022 United States Grand Prix) pic.twitter.com/5rUA06HMff
— OvertakeCentral (@OvertakeCentral) October 24, 2022
Speaking of adrenaline, Vettel admitted after the race that he'll miss such high-octane moments when he departs the grid at the end of the season.
"It’s a bit of a climax and he [Magnussen] is one of the most difficult ones to overtake in the entire field. But he left just enough room and it was good fun for both of us," he said.
As for Magnussen, motorsport's viking was disappointed to lose out, but the Dane felt privileged to battle Vettel in "some of the best racing" he's ever been involved in.
"It was a good battle," Magnussen told Speed City Broadcasting. "Of course, I’m pissed off to lose out, but I have to say that was some of the best racing I’ve ever been involved in.
"The way he drove was just, yeah, incredible. It’s almost like I feel privileged to be able to race against someone like that. It’s great, and I’m going to take that lesson and treasure it.”
"Racing against him it doesn’t feel like it’s at the end of his career," he added. "It feels like… yeah just great driving from him, but of course pissed off with myself that I just lost it on that last lap."
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