Sebastian Vettel has been hit with a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points on his race licence for the Mexican Grand Prix after the stewards deemed the Ferrari driver to have illegally changed direction under braking.
The German was the centre of another controversy surrounding Max Verstappen during the race after the Dutchman cut the track and failed the cede his position to Vettel.
Vettel was later promoted to third after Verstappen was handed a penalty, only for him top later lose the podium spot himself.
The stewards judged Vettel to have made an illegal move while defending fourth place from Daniel Ricciardo, one lap after the incident involving Verstappen.
Ricciardo was left fuming after the race, insisting that Vettel be given a penalty, a decision which has now been taken.
While the top two of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg again remains unchanged, Daniel Ricciardo is now third, with Max Verstappen moving up to fourth, while Sebastian Vettel drops to fifth.
The decision means that three different drivers have been classified in third place following the chequered flag at the Mexican Grand Prix
I would love to hear what Vettel is shouting now over the radio...
Yes! Judgement day! Verstappen was clearly doing the right thing by remaining in position and Vettel lost it. And why hamilton not a penalty for the first corner...???
But the penalty wasn't justified. Vettel was not yet attacking him. He was clearly behind Max.
Also he was not told to give the position up. So of course he stays in position. That is his job, to get as high as possible. Why did Vettel not pass him later? Guess he was betting on the penalty. He should have tried again but was to worked up I fear.
I started to get some respect after last year but now he is just too frustrated.
I agree with both penalties. It's a shame for F1 though, that the penalty to Vettel was given after the podium ceremony. I hate it when the top 3 changes afterwards.
Hamilton should have been given the same 5 seconds as Verstappen for doing the exact same thing.
Hamilton’s move into the first corner may well have kept the championship alive, but his actions have made a mockery of the championship and of Formula 1….. He goes into the corner too hot, outbreaks himself, aims the car and then takes a short cut across the grass.......He never even looked like he was going to attempt to take the corner!!.... He knew that all he had to do to win was to be in front after the first corner!!.....So he went in too hot and then went straight ahead, as if he knew that no action would be taken, unbelievable!!....... what's the point of having a track!!!! ….. Might just as well let drivers find their own way around the circuit!!!! …. This is supposed to be the elite of motorsport…..What a joke.
I must admit I was thinking the same.
I just enjoy racing, have no vested interest and may the best driver / car win. But I'm a bit confused as the gentleman above me. Hamilton gained a huge advantage going of track in the first corner, and Rosberg a rather large one later on as well. But no one even suggests that they should be penalised. Is that because they are reigning champs and different standards apply to them? Again, I really don't care who wins one way or the other, and objectively speaking both Verstappen and Vettel were penalised for something they actually did seem to do wrong. But Hamilton gets to brake later, and cut a huge corner to ensure being in front, and no one lifts an eyebrow? In all earnesty, I'd really like to hear any explanation. Anyone?
It was a mess. Nobody is happy.
Hamilton should have gotten a penalty but the SC took care of the advantage he got.
Verstappen on Rosberg was nasty but this is, I find, part of the start mayhem.
Verstappen made a braking error and got back on track without gaining an advantage. Musing: if Vettel would have been 30s behind him he would not have been penalised ergo 1s behind should not make the difference. Had Vettel actually attacked and put that famous significant portion (apparently about 2% is significant aka 10 cm) next to Verstappen it would have been clear as far as the advantage is concerned.
Vettel on Ricciardo: clear. He moved after Ricciardo was 40% beside him. Verstappen did it on others (Spa, Suzuka) before they even got anything next to him.
I agree almost entirely with your post, accept that Hamilton lost its advantage due to SC is irrelivant, VES lost his advantage due to dirty tires (I think VET was even closer after VES returned to the track then before leaving). ROS-VES where close to HAM, so he should have had 5s added to his stop.
The're was no call of VS or SC when re-entering the track. Hamilton was 2 cornors further away or something.
Yes I am Dutch, but I do not see the difference between HAM going of with 21 cars behind him, or VES with 2 cars. In my opinion because of the same thing, breaking to hard so the wheels lock, same punishment must be handed to the drivers. Ham nothing, VES nothing. (Do not add to HAM on the end, that is something different then in race 5s with the stop)
I do not know if with the following I am overestimating VES his capability's. But I think he is smart enough to have seen HAM overshoot in the 1st corner without penalty, so why not do the same.
I agree with the fact that Hamilton deserved a penalty but he was "lucky" to get the SC which gave the stewards a reason to "forget" that.
@BHURT, tell me about it. SkyF1 is filled with jingoists and politically correct nutjobs.
Agree Hamilton should have got a penalty! The FIA always protect him incase he pulls the racist card again like he did in 2010. @BHURT i watched it on Sky Sports too, Brundle always ALWAYS blames everyone else bar hamiton, they didnt once say 'Hamilton might have to give a place back but the FIA are ok with the drivers for the first few laps' but go on to blame Rosberg for the offtrack moment with verstappen, then they had to swallow their own words when they showed a replay of Verstappen pushing Rosberg off track. Rosberg better win this championship and he better do it in brazil so we can see hamilton crumble and await for him to say 'If i didnt have any reliability problems i would have one'......p***k
Hey James, you are much more lenient than me…… I think the SC is irrelevant. My issue is that once in first place there was little chance of Rosberg being able to pass, and Hamilton knew that, in fact he has said as much on numerous occasions…. If you look at Hamilton’s on board footage you can see that he went in so hot, and so close to the inside line, that he never had any chance of making the corner at all, in fact you can see him aim the car across the grass toward the corresponding corner….. there is no doubt in my mind that that was a premeditated move. In any case, premeditated or not, in my opinion he should have been given a drive through penalty, or at least have been stripped of first place….. It makes an absolute joke of Formula 1 that he be able to get away with that.
@BHURT, I agree.... With Sky F1 being telecast in so many countries, it really does not cut the mustard that it should be an all English commentary team...... At the very least, Paul Di Resta should be replaced with a Non-English former driver. Paul seems like a nice guy, but he's a bit dour to be on air
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dr002
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Hamilton’s move into the first corner may well have kept the championship alive, but his actions have made a mockery of the championship and of Formula 1….. He goes into the corner too hot, outbreaks himself, aims the car and then takes a short cut across the grass.......He never even looked ... [Read more]