United States GP: Sebastian Vettel victim of a demotion on a grid of three places: the right decision?



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Vettel will not start higher than fourth place in the United States. Qualy at 22h; Sunday's race starts at 7:10 pm, simultaneously on Sky One and Sky F1

Last updated: 20/10/18 10h26


The penalty on Sebastian Vettel's three-seater grid for the Sunday US GP divided the opinion in the paddock, but gave the title a boost to Lewis Hamilton.

The Ferrari driver was punished after the stewards decided that he had not slowed enough during a red flag period during Friday's practice.

United States GP TV schedules and calendar
How Hamilton Can Win the Title at US GP
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The demotion of Vettel increases the chances that Hamilton will be crowned world champion this weekend. Hamilton must overtake Vettel by eight points or more to be confirmed as the title winner five times.

1:32
Paul Di Resta of Sky F1 explains why Sebastian Vettel was found with a penalty for not having slowed enough during a red flag during the practice of the GP of the United States

Paul Di Resta of Sky F1 explains why Sebastian Vettel was found with a penalty for not having slowed enough during a red flag during the practice of the GP of the United States

The pilots' view of the Vettel penalty
Sky F1 analyst Paul Di Resta, who drove for Williams last season, sympathized with Vettel's fate.

"This year, there is a new strict rule and drivers have some time to slow down," said Di Resta. "The FIA ​​says you have two" zones "to reach that speed, but if you are at the end of the first zone, you have less time because you are going to get to the end of the second zone. is where it's difficult.

"I'm sensitive to the drivers, Vettel has slowed down, it's just a question of whether the Delta is a bit too fast, when I look at it from the driver's point of view, I would say it's really pretty Slow and that he took the appropriate steps. "Yes, safety is critical, but he slowed down enough for a Formula 1 car." As soon as he saw the red lights, he reduced his speed.

"All the drivers will be on Vettel's side, the rule has to change, it needs to be changed."

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How did the paddock react to Vettel's penalty?
Red Bull boss Christian Horner, for whom Vettel had driven after winning four world championships, called the regulation a "garbage rule", but immediately acknowledged that the stewards "had to be consistent".

Earlier this year, Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull was eliminated from three spots for a similar offense. Force India's Esteban Ocon also lost three spots to the Japan Grand Prix after a red flag race.

"It's not a good regulation or a penalty," said Horner. "We are over-regulated as a sport."

Although Vettel's penalty increased his own driver's chances of winning the title this weekend, Mercedes head Toto Wolff agreed that the rules should be changed.

"For the championship, obviously, it's not good if Sebastian gets a penalty, we obviously would like him to be there and do a good show," Wolff told Sky F1.

"I think we need to talk about it, the safety of the stewards and the car in the gate is extremely important, but we need to look at the regulations because we want to remove the penalties, the merger of these two trivial things."

2:11
Sebastian Vettel, of Ferrari, thinks he's complied with the FIA ​​rules despite the demotion of three places on the US GP grid Sunday

Sebastian Vettel, of Ferrari, thinks he's complied with the FIA ​​rules despite the demotion of three places on the US GP grid Sunday

What did Vettel and Ferrari say?
The Ferrari driver is categorical: he should not have been penalized.

"I think it's wrong, I think I've slowed down," Vettel told Sky Sports. "I think it should be common sense with the rules we have."

Ferrari did not formally comment on the punishment.

But in an exclusive interview with the Ferrari chief that will be broadcast this weekend as part of the coverage of the Grand Prix by US F1, Maurizio Arrivabene said: "The penalty was quite severe but the rules are the rules. Was an impossible mission, now it's the mission impossible-but anything can happen in Formula 1. "

What did the Italian press say?
The Italian media have been increasingly critical of Vettel over the last few weeks, as his offer for the title has been erased and it seems that Vettel should not benefit from a Comprehensive hearing for his last setback:

Vettel's mistakes in 2018

Race Session Incident
Azerbaijan Race Hangs trying to overtake Bottas for lead, drops to fourth place
la France Race Collides with Bottas early and falls on the ground
L & # 39; Austria Qualification Blocks Sainz and retrograde five places on the grid
Germany Race Crashes in the barriers of the head
Italy Race Collides with Hamilton in the first round
Japan Qualification Turns in flight and qualifies ninth
Japan Race Accident in Verstappen after an ambitious overtaking
United States Practice A Fails to slow down enough for red flags and inflicts a penalty of three places on the grid

US GP calendar by Sky F1

Saturday, October 20th
6:45 pm: Third GP session of the United States
7 pm: Practice of the United States Three LIVE GP!
21h: Qualification course for the US GP LIVE! (Simulcast on Sky One and Main Event)
22h: qualification for the US GP LIVE! (Simulcast on Sky One and Main Event)
23:45: The F1 Show LIVE (Simulcast on Sky One and Main Event)

Sunday October 21st
17:30: Pit Lane LIVE! (Simulcast on Sky One)
6:30 pm: On the live schedule! (Simulcast on Sky One and Main Event)
7:10 PM: THE UNITED STATES GP LIVE! (Simulcast on Sky One and Main Event)
9:30 pm: Paddock Live

Will Lewis Hamilton win a fifth world F1 title at the US GP? The race starts at 19:10 on Sunday with a preparation from 17:30. The Saturday Qualy starts at 9pm. Get Sky Sports F1.

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