FIA hit back over Vettel five-second penalty criticisms

FIA chief Charlie Whiting has responded to criticisms over the five-second penalty given to Sebastian Vettel following his incident with Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas, stating that the penalty given is consistent with other incidents of a similar nature in the past.

Vettel took responsibility after he collided with Bottas in the first lap of the race, damaging his car's nose while puncturing Bottas' tyre, leaving both men at the back of the grid as they were forced to pit for repairs.

The German was hit with a five-second penalty which he collected in the pit lane but many were quick to comment that the punishment did not fit the crime in this case.

Mercedes' Niki Lauda said that he 'could not understand' the penalty considering that it was 'an enormous mistake', while Lewis Hamilton was extremely vocal in the defence of his colleague, whose weekend 'was ruined' by the coming together and added: “He shouldn’t really be able to finish ahead of him, because he took him out of the race.”

Whiting and the FIA's response was that this incident was treated like other incidents of a similar style, adding there is no stipulation for the consequences of the driver's actions.

He said: “[The stewards] had four options open to them; A five-second penalty, 10-second, drive-through or stop-go. They chose the five-second penalty which is consistent with other incidents of that sort.

“If you look at the consequences of an incident then maybe one could think differently. But stewards attempt not to do that.”

Fans took to social media in the aftermatch of the race as Sebastian Vettel was awarded the Driver of the Day despite his clash with Bottas, after cutting through the grid from the back to finish in fifth position.