Sebastian Vettel's Canada penalty: Everything you need to know

Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel's Canada penalty: Everything you need to know

Here's the evidence.

Matthew Scott

Monday 10 June 2019 14:21

Sebastian Vettel having the Canadian Grand Prix win taken away from him by a five-second time penalty sent Formula 1 fandom, and many experts likewise, into absolute meltdown. Vettel's furious reaction and Ferrari's possible appeal only adds to the drama.

Vettel crossed the line first, but victory was given to Lewis Hamilton after the German had re-joined the track in his rival's path, forcing the Mercedes man to brake sharply.

A collision was avoided, but the stewards still deemed the incident worthy of punishment.

Here's everything you need to know about the incident.

Vettel's incident with Hamilton

Article continues under video

Vettel's radio reaction to five-second penalty

The stewards' decision for penalising Vettel in full

The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, have considered the following matter and determine the following:

No / Driver: 5 - Sebastian Vettel

Competitor: Scuderia Ferrari

Time: 15:13

Session: Race

Fact: Car 5 left the track, re-joined unsafely and forced another car off track.

Offence: Involved in an incident as defined by Article 38.1 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.

Decision: 5 second time penalty (2 point awarded, 7 points in total for the 12 month period).

Reason: The stewards reviewed video evidence and determined that Car 5, left the track at turn 3, rejoined the track at turn 4 in an unsafe manner and forced car 44 off track. Car 44 had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Vettel's pit-lane protest

What Vettel said

"Obviously I'm not happy with the decision the stewards took. I think you can understand. It feels a bit weird to sit here, not having won the race even though you crossed the line first. And as I said, I don't think I have done anything wrong; I don't feel I could have done anything different. I don't know, actually, what the problem was."

What Hamilton said

"When you come back on the track you're not supposed to go straight back to the racing line, you're supposed to come on safely."

What will happen with Ferrari's appeal?

Ferrari have submitted an intention to appeal. This, in effect, gives them 96 hours to gather more evidence before deciding whether to go ahead with the process or not.

The Scuderia similarly submitted an intention to appeal a time penalty given to Vettel in the 2016 Mexican GP, but did not follow it up.