FIA clarify standings following Hungarian GP confusion

Sebastian Vettel on the podium in Hungary — Photo: © LAT Images

Hungarian Grand Prix

FIA clarify standings following Hungarian GP confusion

Drivers' and constructors' standings updated

Ian Parkes

Monday 2 August 2021 17:31

The FIA has clarified the F1 drivers' and constructors' standings following confusion in the wake of Sebastian Vettel's disqualification from the Hungarian Grand Prix.

After celebrating second at the Hungaroring to Alpine's Esteban Ocon, Vettel was later disqualified after the FIA was unable to obtain the required one litre of fuel from the four-time champion's AMR21.

At that stage, the assumption was the drivers who had finished behind Vettel would all move up a place in the classification, with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton claiming the runner-up spot and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz completing the podium in third.

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But after Aston Martin served notice of its intent to appeal the stewards' verdict, the FIA then published the race classification with Vettel still second, albeit noting it was "provisional subject to the outcome of the notice of appeal lodged by Aston Martin".

The release of the drivers' and constructors' standings followed and reflected the classification of the race, meaning Hamilton was six points clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the battle for the F1 title.

This caused confusion as the previous time a driver had been disqualified from a race - Romain Grosjean from sixth in the 2018 Italian Grand Prix - the classification and standings reflected that fact.

The FIA has now issued a corrected final classification and standings that confirm Vettel as disqualified, with Hamilton second et cetera, and with the Briton holding an eight-point lead over Verstappen, who moves up from 10th to ninth.

In the constructors' championship, Mercedes' lead over Red Bull is 12 points, while Ferrari and McLaren are tied on 163, but with the Scuderia third by virtue of countback.