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Reading Activities

A: Reading For The Main Idea
Choose the best answer for each of these questions. Use Part One of the article.

1. Why did Vettel say sorry after the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix?
Source: photo taken by Morio - 04/04/2010, 'Sepang International Circuit'

a. because he won.
b. because he did not follow the instructions he had been given.
c. because he did not drive safely.

2. Who did Vettel say sorry to?

a. his team, Red Bull staff and Mark Webber
b. the crew of his car
c. fans of motor racing

3. At what event did Vettel say sorry?

a. at a meeting with reporters
b. on a visit to a factory
c. both of the above answers are correct

Part One:

Vettel apologizes to Red Bull staff

Thu, Mar 28, LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has apologized in person to Red Bull staff for ignoring team orders in a controversial

Malaysian Grand Prix last weekend.
The team said the 25-year-old German had also spoken to aggrieved team mate Mark Webber, who had victory snatched away in the closing laps, after the race at Sepang and the pair had shaken hands.

"He's said he can't turn back the clock but he's accepted what he did was wrong," team principal Christian Horner said of Vettel, who visited the Milton Keynes factory on Tuesday to address employees.

"He's apologized to the team and to every single member of staff for his actions, because he recognizes the team is vitally important and being part of the team is a crucial aspect to being able to challenge for those championships."

Vettel had also apologized to Webber in a news conference after Sunday's race, saying he had made a mistake. (Continued.../)

B: Completing A Table of Information
Complete this table of information about Sebastian Vettel. Use Parts One and Two of the article.

Name: Sebastian Vettel

Age (as of March 2013):

Nationality:

Profession:

Team:

Current Title:

Previous titles include:

Part Two:

(Continued.../) The German has won the last three drivers' titles with Red Bull, who are chasing their fourth successive constructors' championship.

The German had qualified on pole position in Malaysia but found himself behind his team mate after the pitstops with the team instructing the pair to hold station to save fuel and prevent excessive tire wear.

The new Pirelli tires for this season are quick-wearing and, with a comfortable time cushion between them and Lewis Hamilton in third place for Mercedes, the team wanted to safeguard the one-two.

Webber turned down his engine and eased off, assured that Vettel would do likewise, but Vettel seized the opportunity to overtake with both drivers going wheel-to-wheel as they battled for position.

"It was the intent of the team that Mark should win that race," Horner told Sky television on Thursday, also ending any doubts about Webber's plans for the rest of the year.

"He's big enough to know that there was no malice, no intent from the team to create any situation like that. He's in a car that's capable of winning grands prix and hopefully going for a championship so I've got no doubt that Mark will see out the season with us."

Horner recognized that the fans wanted to see drivers racing each other but said his responsibilities were to the 600 people employed by the team and whose bonuses are dictated by the position in the constructors' championship.

"The responsibility is to make sure that the team achieves its maximum," he said.

Glossary: pole position - the starting position in a race on the inside of the front row, usually thought to be the best place to start, pitstop - a break during which a car is refueled and serviced during a car race

C: Completing A Summary
Use today's article to complete this summary.

Sebastian Vettel, World Champion Formula One driver,

to the Red Bull team for not following team instructions in the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix in March.
Red Bull instructed two drivers,

and

, to save fuel and their cars'

and finish the race with

in second position and

in first position. While

obeyed the instructions and slowed down, thinking that

would also do this, the German world champion did not slow down and instead successfully overtook

, going on to win the Grand Prix.
Vettel has now apologized to Red Bull staff for his action. The team principal,

, said Vettel had accepted that his action was wrong and accepts that the

is extremely important. While

of Formula One would be happy to see the

racing, Horner said he had to think about what was best for the

D: Language
When we describe something, we often use certain combinations of verbs and nouns. (Other combinations are possible, but English speakers feel certain nouns and verbs go together). This is known as collocation.
Part One: Match these verbs and nouns to make phrases from the article. (You can look at the article while you do this if you need to).
1) who had victory ______________ a) taken away, b) seized, c) snatched away
2) can't ______________ the clock a) turn back, b) reset, c) adjust
3) ______________ an opportunity a) picked up, b) captured, c) seized

Part Two: Now match the phrases with their meanings.
1) to regret past actions recognizing that the past cannot be changed
2) to take advantage of a situation and do something
3) when it seemed absolutely certain that someone would win but then they lose at the last possible moment

Post-Reading Activities
You may do one or more of these

A: Extra Reading
Read this excerpt from another article about the Malaysian Grand Prix written before four days earlier than the article in the Reading Activities. What extra details does it give you about what happened between the two drivers?

Sebastian Vettel seals controversial Malaysia win

Sun, Mar 24, SEPANG, Malaysia, (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel won a controversial Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday after defying orders to back off and let Red Bull team mate Mark Webber take the chequered flag ahead of him.

The German's 27th victory, from pole and equalling the tally of triple champion Jackie Stewart in the all-time lists, was full of bad blood on an action-packed afternoon that started with a rainstorm and ended in recrimination and dark scowls on the podium.

"This is not a victory that I'm very proud of because it should have been Mark's," the chastened German, who took the lead after the team had asked both drivers to turn down the engine and look after the tires, conceded after spraying champagne in muted podium celebrations.

The overriding emotion is that we scored 43 points, a maximum score, and a fantastic performance by the team and the car today and against a backdrop of tires that we didn't think would go more than five or six laps," said Red Bull principal Christian Horner.

"We told the drivers to maintain position to the end of the race, look after the tires. The biggest fear was running out of tires. Sebastian took it into his own hands to (overtake)...he wanted to win that race.

"We know there is a bit of history between them...so it's one of those things and the type of thing we will sit down and talk about internally."

The cars started on intermediate tires following a heavy downpour in the mid-afternoon with Webber taking the lead at the second round of pitstops after starting fifth.

The two Red Bulls fought a thrilling battle with Vettel's frustration becoming increasingly apparent while Webber kept him covered defensively.

"Mark is too slow, get him out of the way," the German told the team over the radio at one point.
"I did a mistake, I'm not proud I did it," Vettel, given the cold shoulder by Webber before they went on the podium, told reporters later.

Webber made his anger evident. "In the end we got the right strategy and after the last stop, the team told me to turn the engine down," said the Australian. "Seb made his own decisions and will have protection as usual. I turned my engine down and as we know he's a quick pedaler."....

1. Why did Vettel say sorry after the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix?		Source: photo taken by Morio - 04/04/2010, 'Sepang International Circuit'
	a. because he won. b. because he did not follow the instructions he had been given. c. because he did not drive safely.
2. Who did Vettel say sorry to?
	a. his team, Red Bull staff and Mark Webber b. the crew of his car c. fans of motor racing
3. At what event did Vettel say sorry?
	a. at a meeting with reporters b. on a visit to a factory c. both of the above answers are correct

Name:	Sebastian Vettel
Age (as of March 2013):
Nationality:
Profession:
Team:
Current Title:
Previous titles include: