Aston Martin serve notice of intent to appeal Vettel disqualification

Sebastian Vettel in actie op de Hungaroring. — Photo: © LAT Images

Hungarian Grand Prix

Aston Martin serve notice of intent to appeal Vettel disqualification

The FIA was unable to extract a sufficient amount of fuel

Ian Parkes

Sunday 1 August 2021 23:09 Updated: 18:00

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Aston Martin has served notice to the FIA of its intent to appeal the disqualification of Sebastian Vettel from the Hungarian Grand Prix.

After finishing second at the Hungaroring, the FIA was unable to retrieve a litre of fuel from Vettel's AMR21 as required by the regulations, instead only manging 0.3 litres.

That resulted in Vettel being disqualified, promoting Lewis Hamilton into second place behind race winner in Alpine's Esteban Ocon.

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But an FIA document reads: "The stewards have received a Notice of Intention of Appeal from Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team (“Aston Martin”) at 22:14 hours on 1st August 2021 against stewards' decision No 59.

"In this context, the FIA technical department representatives were asked by the stewards to seal and impound car 5 until such time as the Notice of Appeal is received or the FIA International Court of Appeal makes any determinations as relevant.

"In making this determination, Aston Martin hereby declare that the removal of the various components to safely transport car 5 to the FIA facility in no way compromises the evidence and has no impact upon the matter being appealed."

Under the regulations, Aston Martin now has 96 hours to confirm whether it will formally appeal. In this case, that is until 22:14 on Thursday, August 5.

Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer is convinced there remain 1.44 litres of fuel in the system the FIA could not extract due to an issue with the lift fuel pump.

That problem resulted in Vettel being forced to stop his car at turn 12 on the in-lap at the end of the race.

"We know how much fuel we have put in," Szafnauer told motorsport-magazin.

"We know exactly how much we have used via the fuel-flow meter. Because we have to declare the starting quantity, we can prove it that way."

The FIA has confirmed the final race classification is provisional subject to the notice of appeal. Aston Martin may yet withdraw, or if there is a formal appeal, the result is dependant on a final ruling from the International Court of Appeal.