Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, 2019

Ferrari confirm no appeal on Vettel penalty

2019 F1 Season

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A Ferrari spokesperson has confirmed to Racefans that the team have formally withdrawn their notice of intention to appeal against Sebastian Vettel’s Canadian Grand Prix penalty. However, the team has a further ten days to pursue an alternative protest against the decision, pending new evidence.

Ferrari had lodged their intention to appeal against Vettel’s 5 second penalty immediately following the Canadian Grand Prix. Once the stewards’ decision is published, a team has a 96 hours to lodge its appeal and submit documentation to the FIA.

A team spokesperson told Racefans that, although they could have simply allowed the intention to appeal to lapse, they have now formally advised the FIA that they have withdrawn their intention to appeal.

Submitting an appeal would taken Ferrari’s case to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal, to be decided at their next meeting. However, there is another avenue of challenge to the penalty available to the team.

Article 14 of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, a regulatory document that governs all FIA championships including Formula One, details a ‘Right to Review’ for any decision taken by FIA stewards:

14.1.1 If, in Competitions forming part of an FIA Championship, cup, trophy, challenge or series, or of an international series, a significant and relevant new element is discovered which was unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time of the Competition concerned, whether or not the stewards have already given a ruling, these stewards or, failing this, those designated by the FIA, must meet (in person or by other means) on a date agreed amongst themselves, summoning the party or parties concerned to hear any relevant explanations and to judge in the light of the facts and elements brought before them.

Using this Right to Review would be conditional on Ferrari finding new evidence, which was unavailable to the stewards when taking their original decision during the Canadian Grand Prix.

The same group of stewards – or another group of equivalently skilled stewards, for instance those at the French Grand Prix, would then review the incident again in light of the newly submitted evidence.

According to the current stewarding schedule, at least one of the Canadian stwards will officiate in France.

The stewards also have the power to decide if the submitted evidence counts as ‘significant and relevant’ such as to merit a review of the decision:

14.3 The stewards shall have the sole discretion to determine if a significant and relevant new element exists. The decision of the stewards as to whether or not such an element exists is not subject to appeal before the national court of appeal or the International Court of Appeal.

The Right to Review is open to Ferrari for two weeks after the initial decision; up to June 23rd. Which coincides with the French Grand Prix.

62 comments on “Ferrari confirm no appeal on Vettel penalty”

  1. New Evidence?
    Well, unless they are going to produce some Fake Video showing that actually Vettel left 2 car widths to Lewis, they won’t be able to present anything substantially new or valuable.

    I am not implying they wished or wish to cheat! It is just that the “new evidence” in this case has no way to appear.

    1. Obviously this has to be some cardata that only the team had access to previously but as it stands now there are no signs at all Ferrari is preparing to present any “new evidence”.

      1. A statement from either Vettel or Hamilton could be new evidence but other than additional telemetry I can’t think of any evidence that couldn’t be disputed.

        1. @glynh, a statement from the drivers is something that they could possibly submit, though it is hard to see what new evidence either driver could present that would change the situation significantly.

          Assuming that Ferrari are serious about requesting a review, the most plausible evidence that they could submit would be some form of telemetry data that only Ferrari has access to. That said, I believe the stewards already have partial access to telemetry data from the cars, so I am not sure what new data Ferrari could present that probably wouldn’t already be available to the stewards.

          It does make me wonder what exactly Ferrari are trying to do here. I had suspected from the start they would have to withdraw the appeal, given that the regulations explicitly stated that time penalties cannot be appealed against – I can only assume it was a delaying tactic to try and find some other way to try and protest something which the rules state cannot be protested.

          Again, this move does feel like it is a way for Ferrari to attempt to get around the fact that time penalties cannot be appealed against directly, and perhaps act as a way for Ferrari to put pressure on the FIA by using this as a way of challenging their authority. I wouldn’t be surprised if this also peters out, either by Ferrari allowing this application to lapse or the FIA simply ruling that Ferrari has brought no new evidence and dismisses their application, as has happened in a number of other racing series.

    2. I don’t know, maybe they will find a fan’s phone video showing Vettel screaming in terror that he is so out of control of the car??

      1. Why is everyone’s knickers in a knot over the concept of ‘new evidence?’ This article is not saying they have any. Ferrari is not saying they have any. It is merely saying that even though they have withdrawn their appeal rather than letting the timeframe lapse on said appeal, they do still have a window of opportunity to present new evidence…by the way the rules work on such things. That’s all. Nowhere does it say they have new evidence or are looking for any. I would suggest that if they had any they wouldn’t have dropped their appeal ahead of the deadline. They would have just presented it.

        1. Why is everyone’s knickers in a knot over the concept of ‘new evidence?’ This article is not saying they have any.

          @robbie – agreed. The rule states “new evidence” for an alternative protest, however the authors never said that Ferrari have new evidence to offer, but everyone’s getting lathered up at those two words :)

  2. F1oSaurus (@)
    13th June 2019, 21:38

    So in fact Ferrari realized they have nothing. If there was any “new evidence” they would have it available by now. They just want to milk this propaganda nonsense for as long as they can.

    Sickening.

    1. I’m glad Hamilton said he was still trying to pass just as hard as if there weren’t a 5-second penalty, so that if it gets overturned (not that I can imagine it will) it wouldn’t be unfair to him, because he apparently wasn’t relying on the free 5 seconds to win the race, but was unable to get by.

    2. Woops, I didn’t mean to reply to you. BTW, your bar for sickening behavior is extremely low.

      1. F1oSaurus (@)
        14th June 2019, 21:48

        @chaddy Well badmouthing stewards who do nothing but their job and doing it correctly … is … sickening to me yes.

        They should be chastising Vettel for yet again throwing away a race win instead.

    3. @f1osaurus It really is your attitude that is getting sickening. You’re more bent out of shape over this than the affected parties.

      1. I dunno I saw Vettel acting like a spoilt 3 year old who’d just been told to go to to bed. That’s a pretty high bar for any internet commentator here.

    4. If you really think they are milking this then you really are a little delusional, what sort of benefit could Ferrari possibly gain from what would undoubtedly be bad publicity.

      1. Foggy, is it really bad publicity for Ferrari though?

        In this situation, Ferrari and Vettel have been in a position where the press seem to be inclined towards supporting their position and they have been the ones who have arguably been most vocal as well, giving them an opportunity to generally shape the narrative.

        As a result, I would say that it has generally been the FIA that has been cast in a more negative light in this whole debate, allowing Ferrari and Vettel to cast themselves in the position of a wronged party that is seeking redress. Is is really that damaging to Ferrari to extend the debate, or is it actually potentially useful given that we are currently in a period where Ferrari is negotiating with the FIA over future regulations and Ferrari can use a strong media storm against the FIA as leverage in any negotiations with them?

    5. This going to be dragged out as long as the Spa penalty for Hamilton. Both very clear cut, no-nonsense penalties.

      1. How can Spa be a clear cut penalty when the rule he broke didn’t even exist when he crossed the line?

        1. @riptide he did cross FIA’s line didnt he? so he broke the rules :)
          the guy arguing spa with canada is a clear cut troll… we are feeding them by responding

          1. @mysticus
            The rule Hamilton broke was only created after the incident.It did not exit at the time of the race that is why the penalty was only applied significantly after the incident.

    6. Vettel and ferrari are turning into trump

  3. Replay of Baku

    Whine, scream call people names – we are going to protest

    2 days later after the team reviews all data & video – never mind

    1. No wonder this team needs to be stripped of its veto and mafia tax.

      1. @Chaitanya these are the occasions where you can see yourself who really has the power in F1. But if you prefer to think that the veto is there to win championships, go check the last years results.

        1. True, even with that Veto and constant threat of leaving F1 and starting a breakaway series if the rules aren’t modified to this teams liking, still they fail miserably repeatedly in winning championship. Even weird is how much tantrums we have heard about stewards and race director(Late Charlie Whiting) from this team and their golden boy everytime they get penalized. we have a saying in Marathi about giving a sword to monkey and this is what the whole Veto given to Ferrari feels like.

  4. The only thing Ferrari should be reviewing is why Vettel continues to crack under pressure.

    There is nothing else to be seen here.

    As with the withdrawn appeal, so nothing will come of this Right to Review.

    1. @stubbornswiss yes, he cracks under pressure. But please check what he was doing during the GP

      https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/c05umk/vettel_was_fuel_saving_the_whole_race/

      He did an absolute masterpiece of a race and took the car in a place where it didn’t belong.

      1. The only place he took the car where it didn’t belong was off track.

        1. Touché!

    2. @stubbornswiss

      Says more about you than it does about Vettel.
      Vettel kept a faster and easier to drive car behind for longer than most people would.
      Whilst your’re just trying to insult him on the internet.

      1. I’m not a racing driver, and this conversation is not about me.

        Like it or not, the truth is Vettel and indeed the entire Ferrari team, need to focus on why their star driver CONTINUES to crack under pressure.

        And if by saying that I am insulting Vettel as you say, then I can only assume that English is not your mother tongue.

        1. @stubbornswiss how dare you criticize vettel? you should insult hamilton instead for going on the radio to create this fake news of dangerous driving… we should petition on vettel’s behalf to create another rule to give hamilton a 5 sec penalty like SPA… so vettel/ferrari fans would be happy!

      2. F1oSaurus (@)
        14th June 2019, 19:47

        Vettel was in the fastest car. Leclerc had the fastest time on the hard tyres.

      3. When did the Mercedes become the easier car to drive? I swear Ferrari fans just make up whatever narrative suits them at their convenience.

        1. Yep lie after lie it’s pretty bizarre that they can’t even see themselves doing it :/

  5. Face it – appeal, review, or neither: Hamilton continues to out-psyche Vettel. Sun-Tse: Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

    1. @robertwilliams I’m good too in winning wars having a nuke in my pocket against enemies firing with water pistols.

      1. Sin-Tse? Fernando, is that you?

        1. S*u*n-Tse
          (grmbl grmbl … no correct option … grmbl … [pulls out hair] … [bangs head on keyboarddddddddddd] … there goes the “d” key …)

      2. I prefer ‘never bring a knife to a gun fight’.

        As we have seen over the last two years Ferrari have equipped Vettel with the gun on numerous occasions; as have Mercedes with Hamilton. When Hamilton has the gun he hits the target…..unfortunately when Vettel has the gun he invariably shoots himself in the foot.

        1. hamilton and vettel goes to a bar, and joins shooting competition….

          hamilton shoots first and hits the bullseye! he says “i am hamilton”

          vettel shoots next, and hits himself, and says “no no no no not like that, i m sorry!”

    2. @robertwilliams

      ‘Out-psyche’, you mean just him and his team boss lying about the Ferrari when they know Vettel isn’t allowed to say how bad it is to drive. Ferrari havnt built a good car or acted like a top team for more than a decade.

      1. Ferrari havnt built a good car or acted like a top team

        A formula (excuse) that conveniently covers everything.

      2. F1oSaurus (@)
        14th June 2019, 19:48

        Ferrari is lacking a top driver. That’s it. Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Ricciardo would all have won the 2018 WDC for Ferrari “for sure” and most likely 2017 too.

  6. I don’t think there was enough material to even launch an appeal. It was an emotional decision taken by Ferrari and Vettel. At the end of the day, it was an unsafe rejoining of the track and a penalty that was consistent with one’s handed out in the past (Verstappen vs Raikonnen at Japan last year). Even Max complained about it, but later made his peace with it. I think Ferrari have probably made their peace with it as well.

    I don’t think they have any additional evidence, or anything of the sort. None of the fans wanted to see a race winner declared in this way, and I think Ferrari used that to their favour in launching this appeal and review process, but I’ve got to admit with Nico Rosberg on this one. He broke the rule and got a justified penalty.

    I think Ferrari need to actually focus on why their #1 driver constantly cracks under pressure. He dropped the ball for like the 6th or 7th time in 16 races. He threw a tantrum while on the race track instead of focusing on building a 5 sec gap and salvaging the situation. Then he threw another hissy fit after the race and turned in to the Incredible Sulk.

    Ferrari really need to focus their efforts on getting Leclerc up to speed, and then getting another competitive driver in Vettel’s seat if they want any chance at a championship.

    1. @todfod

      What a load of nonsense.
      You’re basic blaming Vettel for Ferrari unable to act like a top team since Brawn left, or be able to build a dominant car, or even a car capable of regular poles or wins since the Brawn effect started to wear off in 2008.
      Ferrari are ther ones dropping the ball since 2008 and regularly with Alonso there. Yet the Hamilton fans always want to bash only those two drivers, I wonder why……..

      Vettel hinted to me (it seems nobody else gave a d@mn to listen) that last year’s car wasn’t easy to drive.
      He’s recently tried to hint that it’s not as good on its tires. At the same time as Haas team boss saying F1 is just a compettion to get the car working on its tires.

      With Lewis producing regular lock-ups and getting away with it, Vettel’s car getting a complete wobble on into the chicane it’s pretty obvious the 4 time world champion, who for instance beat Hamilton in his faster McLaren to win the 2010 championship, isn’t ‘choking’ ‘cracking under pressure’
      Funnikly enough, the same posters were saying just a few arces ago that Leclerc had ended his career.
      I’ve never seen so many sheepish so-called fans when he got that stunning pole on Saturday.

      1. Hamilton can lock up his tyres how often he wants if he still wins races. Going off track and coming back on unsafely, blocking your opponent on the racing line, is against existing regulations and was duly penalized. Vettel is well aware of those rules: everyone time he has spun around the last few seasons, he has waited to rejoin the track safely. He didn’t want to this time as he was battling for a first place he clearly felt might be his only chance for a win right now. Understandable. But that doesn’t excuse the infringement.

        As for Leclerce, he has lost form since the Baku crash and Vettel has been regaining some confidence in equal measure. There’s no contradiction is saying Vettel drove excellently in Canada qualifying and the race, but again made a mistake that lost him the race. It’s just a fact.

      2. @Big Joe

        No. I’m blaming Vettel for failing to deliver the goods even when Ferrari gets it right.

        1. @todfod i m surprised still to this day yet no ferrari fan came out for vettel’s germany crash to be blamed on hamilton for putting unnecessary stress and pressure on ferrari/vettel! hence ham should have been dnfed for causing an avoidable collision!

      3. Also, us “sheepish” fans commended him for his qualifying effort. Only for him to throw it away the next day.

        I’m sure it hurts being a Vettel fan.. Just don’t take it out and people starting facts.

      4. F1oSaurus (@)
        14th June 2019, 19:50

        Ferrari had the fastest car in Bahrain. Vettel failed.
        Ferrari had the fastest car in Canada. Vettel failed.

        How is Ferrari having the fastest car to blame on the team? It’s Vettel who keeps losing control of his car over and over.

      5. Big Joe, the problem with your assertions about 2010 is that it directly contradicts Adrian Newey’s own assessment, such as when he stated in 2014 that “The RB6 was probably the car with the most downforce in the history of F1”.

        Rather than the McLaren being faster, the comments that Newey subsequently made about the RB6 suggests that he thought that the RB6 was the fastest car on the grid in 2010.

  7. If Ferrari had proceeded with that appeal they would have to have provided evidence in the form of team telemetry. As they haven’t and won’t appeal now or in the future it is because they know the Vettel pantomime was just that: a distraction worthy of the best propagandists.

    The penalty was a fair cop as it was on Verstappen in Monza when he was demoted from second. They should just take the punishment and be good competitors not backroom politicians.

    Thank the Lord Ferrari International Assistance is gone. Now the veto needs to go and perhaps they will at last they will understand they are just one of many competitors not standing above all the other teams entitled to special and favourable treatment, and in doing that get back to being a force on track and a winner or championships.

  8. Ferrari should have figured out by now the driver they should have gone for was Ricciardo and not Vettel.

    1. F1oSaurus (@)
      14th June 2019, 19:52

      Exactly. Or at least give Leclerc a go at it. Why keep using Leclerc as a pawn when Vettel is not delivering. Leclerc was half a second per lap faster than Vettel.

      If they had give Leclerc the tow in Q3 he would have been the faster one and started from pole. Why not just give the kid a go. He’s suffered enough “for the team” only to see Vettel blunder it away.

      1. Your Vettel hatred will soon blow up your head, mate.

        1. F1oSaurus (@)
          14th June 2019, 21:58

          It’s disappointment. Why do Ferrari keep backing a driver who is clearly not up to the task?

          People who claim the championships are boring actually agree with me. Even if they don’t realize. Just imagine if a competent driver was in that #1 Ferrari. The championships would be a lot more exciting.

          2017 and 2018 could have been epic.

          This season would have been a lot better too. Bahrain, Baku and Canada were winnable for Ferrari. Then both Hamilton and the #1 Ferrari driver would have 3 wins each and Bottas 1. How much closer would the championship be then?

          Instead Vettel was just lost in Baku and spins off in Bahrain and Canada. So Bottas and Hamilton pick up those wins instead and as a result Mercedes looks to be dominating. Bleh boring!

          Hatred no. Disappointment in yet another wasted championship battle due to incompetence from one side, yes!

          I don’t blame the team/driver who is performing amazingly well for how “boring” F1 is. I blame the driver who keeps throwing it all away.

  9. @f1osaurus why is your head still intact? :)

    1. F1oSaurus (@)
      15th June 2019, 12:17

      @mysticus Why not? Makes more sense for Vettel fan’s heads to explode at some point. How long can one keep pretending that a guy who keeps throwing away so many wins is all that (and with t two WDC’s in a row and a third one rolling away)? That must take some serious mental gymnastics.

      1. Because “Your Vettel hatred will soon blow up your head, mate.”

        :)

  10. An interesting fact is that the stewards imposing he penalty on Vettel were German, French and Italian.

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