Formula 1 Governing Body the FIA has dismissed Ferrari’s appeal on Sebastian Vettel’s penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix which demoted him to 5th place.
Vettel incurred the 10s time penalty for breaching Article 27.5 of the FIA Sporting Regulations when he moved under braking to block off Ricciardo who attempted a pass on Vettel down the inside of Turn 4 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico.
Ferrari lodged an appeal to the decision based on “new elements” that they felt was grounds for a review of the decision.
After a teleconference with the stewards for the Mexican Grand Prix and representatives from Ferrari, the FIA have decided to dismiss the appeal from Ferrari stating that there were no new elements to the argument.
Ferrari’s two new elements to the case was that the Race Director had the power to instruct Max Verstappen to give back the position and that there was new GPS data.
In a statement by the FIA they detail the reasons for rejecting the appeal.
“Scuderia Ferrari argued in its written submission that the ‘new element’, in accordance with Article 14.1, existed. In its verbal submissions it also argued that there were two “new elements”, read the statement.
“Specifically the Scuderia argued that the Race Director, pursuant to Article 27.4 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, had the “power” to instruct the driver of Car 33 Max Verstappen, to give back the alleged advantage he had gained when leaving the track on a previous lap to that of the incident involving Car 5 and Car 3 driven by Daniel Ricciardo.
Scuderia Ferrari also argued that the GPS data it presented was a “new element”. The Stewards heard extensive verbal submission and argument for all parties.
“In relation to the matter of the Race Director having the ‘power’ to instruct the driver of Car 33 to give back the alleged advantage, we note firstly that the relevant article gives the Race Director ‘absolute authority’ to allow the driver to give back a position. It does not imply an obligation to do so. The fact that the Race Director did not exercise his discretion is not relevant to the decision taken in Document 38.
“In relation to the GPS data, we note that this data is available to teams during the race. It is also available to, and referred to by, the stewards, in the Stewards Room during the race.
“When asked if the GPS data in any way contradicted the telemetry and other evidence that the Stewards concluded showed that the driver of Car 5 had steered whilst under braking at Turn 4, Mr [Jock] Clear conceded that it did not.
“Article 14.2 of the International Sporting Code gives the Stewards the sole discretion to determine if a new element exists. Having received all the written and verbal submissions and carefully considered them, the Stewards decide there is no new element.”
Ferrari have the option of appealing the matter if they so wish.
Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Formula One
