Sebastian Vettel scuppered the chance to win his home Grand Prix as he skidded off the track and into the barriers 52 laps in.The likes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have already weighed in with their opinions on the crash, the latter slamming the Ferrari driver for pushing too hard in spite of the rainy conditions.Hamilton, who secured an unlikely triumph having begun the day in 14th, was a little more tactful than that.Vettel must live with the consequences nonetheless and could only look on as he saw his title rival take a 17-point lead in the Championship.What was particularly frustrating was that the German had been in such a good position, having opened up a decent gap over team-mate Kimi Raikkonen as he led by nine seconds.The crash was understandable, though, given the weather and Max Verstappen has become the latest big name in the sport to defend Vettel.The Red Bull driver, who knows only too well what it is like to face criticism for his often erratic and reckless driving, is quoted via Autosport:"It was super tricky out there, especially in that corner."Even if you experience the slightest lock up there, you immediately go off.

"These were very difficult circumstances. So things like this can happen."

Verstappen sympathises 

It was pointed out to the 20-year-old that Vettel has made other mistakes this season, but he insisted that the conditions at Sachskurve must be taken into account.

"Well, mistakes... these were difficult circumstances," he added.

"It could have happened to someone else just as easily.

"You just try to find good grip everywhere, but you don't want to take too many risks because you already have some good points in the bag.

"You don't want to risk losing those by going off. Dealing with that risk is very difficult.

"If you lock up for just a moment, you fly off the track."

Verstappen himself has improved remarkably of late after a string of crashes early on in the season and followed up his triumph in the Austrian Grand Prix by finishing fourth in Germany after Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, and Raikkonen.

If anyone knows how Vettel will be feeling today, it's him, but only time will tell whether Ferrari can reseize the title race in Hungary. 

Do you think Vettel was at fault? Have your say in the comments.