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The FIA may clarify the rules on a driver's starting position for a Grand Prix, following Sebastian Vettel's extreme measures in China last Sunday. Vettel started the race on the front row alongside Lewis Hamilton but was immensely left of his designated grid slot.
He spoke about it after, claiming he wanted the driest line possible as the track was losing its saturation: "I didn't want to be on the line on the wet track, and there is nothing in the regulations about not doing that."
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Vettel was then immediately investigated over the incident, but no penalty came his way, causing Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to raise his opinion over the incident.
Mika Salo, who was a steward at the Chinese Grand Prix, said that they looked into it, but nothing in the rule book suggests a driver needs to be directly in his grid box due to some slots being complex and curved, such as Monaco.
"When such an anomaly exists, we decided to let Vettel go in this case," said Salo. "It could have been a warning, but it's better to have a more specific rule for these cases," he added.
There was also a second unpunished incident involving Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez who collided on lap one of the race. This year, stewards are less inclined to give penalties and in this incident, both drivers were not disciplined.
Although Stroll retired from the event due to the crash, Salo says that if one driver was to get the blame for the incident it would have been Stroll, due to the opportunity he gave to Perez before quickly shutting the door.
"If someone had been penalised, it would have been Stroll," continued Salo. "In the previous corner he left room, but then in the next, he turned in when Perez was already next to him."
Speaking about the unwillingness to dish out penalties, Salo said: "I have always believed this is the right approach. The penalties had become too much.
"Really, the penalties should only be for things like overtaking under yellow flags or when behind the safety car, or when there is a gross violation of the rules."
Fergal Walsh
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Surprising there is no clear ruling..
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
It just shows some drivers (actually only 1 by the looks of it) think deeply about the rules and study them meticulously. Vettel is reinforcing that stereotype about German perfection/precision/attention to detail.