Vettel: F1 rulebook 'a bit of a mess'

  • Published on 05 Jul 2019 16:29
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Sebastian Vettel has described the Formula 1 rulebook as a "bit of a mess", believing the sport to be over-regulated.

In Canada earlier this year, Vettel received a time penalty which denied him a win when he was deemed to have rejoined the track dangerously in front of Lewis Hamilton after making a mistake.

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Last weekend in Austria, the stewards investigated Max Verstappen's overtake on Charles Leclerc for the lead of the Grand Prix, with the verdict coming over three hours after the chequered flag.

Vettel jokingly called for the FIA to "burn the rulebook and start over", but remains firm on his belief that too much is coming under scrutiny in F1.

"I think the problem is now we have so many rules trying to put in writing what you can't put in writing," he said.

"It's just a bit of a mess, I can't think of any other sport where case by case, things are exactly the same.

"Things are always a bit different. And in our sport it's difficult to put everything and every possible outcome in writing. We need to simplify and give freedom to race each other."

Ferrari has not yet won a race in 2019, being denied in the late stages of Bahrain, Canada and Austria.

Rumours have been swirling about the future of Vettel in F1, however the German has stated that he will still be racing in F1 next year.

Replies (2)

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  • i agree. let them race

    • + 0
    • Jul 6 2019 - 14:37
    • Agree, but you have to draw the line somewhere, either through regulations or deterrents like the sausage curbs. They seemed to work pretty well at Austria. Simple, if you exceed track limits you are going to eff-up your car or get hung up in the gravel, or better yet, put it in the wall. We've seen who can keep within the agreed to limits and who has problems with them. Drivers are always going to whinge when the rules go against them. It's clear every driver is going to take it over the line if they think they can get away with it. VER got away with one as the precedent has been that a move like that gets a penalty. I think the stewards were probably feeling too afraid for their safety to give the penalty. The message that decision sends now it that it's ok to crash into other cars and force them off the track. Should make for some good racing now that's been established.

      • + 0
      • Jul 6 2019 - 19:48

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