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The stewards have explained why Sebastian Vettel did not pick up a penalty despite moving forwards in his grid box before the lights went out to signal the start of the Japanese Grand Prix.
The stewards investigated an alleged breach of Article 36.13(a) of the sporting regulations, which states that a driver may be penalised if they have "moved before the start signal is given, such judgement being made by an FIA approved and supplied transponder fitted to each car".
However, after investigating the incident, the stewards deemed that Vettel moved within a time that does not infringe the regulations.
"The stewards reviewed video evidence and the jump start report based on the information from the FIA approved and supplied transponder fitted to each car,” read a statement.
“Whilst the video shows some movement that movement was within the acceptable tolerance of the F1 jump start system which formerly defines a jump start per Article 36.13(a) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”
Last time out at the Russian Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen received a drive-through penalty after he jumped the start in clear violation of the rules.
At the 2017 Austrian Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas started to roll forwards before the lights went out, however he was not penalised for the incident.
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C. Sainz jr
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Replies (4)
Login to replyf1ski
Posts: 726
Vettel was lucky today but seems to be mentally back. He did not seemed to be emotionally destroyed by the results today. lets see.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It was a close call, but I found their reasoning sound. And Vettel didn't exactly gain from that jump, so the jump was a penalty in itself, in a sense.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I didn't agree with the penalty Raikkonen got in Sochi either, but he got one. That's why I expected a penalty today. I would have to look at the footage to ascertain the situations we're different. However, what's clear is that both moved before the red. Both stopped. Neither got an advantage (quite the opposite). Kimi got penalized and Seb didn't.
I'm glad he didn't get penalized, but the inconsistency is what bothers me.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I didn't like Kimi's penalty but I agreed with it. The difference was that Kimi jumped enough to gain an advantage, which Seb didn't do. Overall, I think the consistency has been fine this year. The season start aside, I feel this has been a very even season in terms of penalties.