French Grand Prix – Ferrari has opted to drop their initial decision to appeal against Sebastian Vettel’s time penalty from Canada, but are considering a ‘right to review’ through FIA channels.
Vettel, who crossed the finishing line in first place in Montreal last time out, was stripped of victory after being given a five second time penalty for an incident on Lap 48. Entering Turn 3, the Ferrari driver lost the rear end of his car and scampered across the grass. Rejoining the circuit, he blocked the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, who was in hot pursuit at the time.
Rightly or wrongly, Vettel was felt to have rejoined the circuit in an unsafe manner and given the five second penalty, leading to dramatic scenes after the chequered flag as the German driver made his feelings very clear over team radio and in parc ferme.
Afterwards, Ferrari initially said they would be appealing the stewards decision, an appeal which would have been required to be lodged by last Thursday night. However, this hasn’t happened.
Instead, Ferrari are reportedly opting for the ‘right to review’. This would mean the penalty would be examined in the context of the FIA’s International Sporting Code. This would mean action can be taken by the FIA, provided that there is a ‘significant or relevant new element’ that wasn’t apparent at the time of the incident.
This must be done by Sunday night, the Sunday of this weekend’s French Grand Prix. If not, then the Canadian result goes unopposed.
