Vettel summoned to F1 stewards over yellow flags incident
Sebastian Vettel has been summoned by the FIA Stewards over a double yellow flags incident during qualifying for the 2021 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
The four-time F1 champion is making his Aston Martin debut this weekend following his switch from Ferrari over the winter, but endured a frustrating qualifying in Bahrain when he was knocked out in Q1 after having to back off on his final flying lap due to traffic and yellow flags.
Vettel had to slow down at Turn 1 after Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin spun ahead of him, with the Russian having just jumped the queue and passed the Aston Martin driver on the warm-up lap.
The German driver then came across another yellow flag at Turn 8 for Carlos Sainz Jr, who had momentarily lost drive on his Ferrari.
Vettel, as well as Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll and George Russell, was put under an initial investigation by the FIA stewards for not respecting a single waved yellow at Turn 8 during qualifying, but all four drivers were cleared of any wrongdoing and duly avoided any penalties.
Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
But the FIA stewards have called a new summons for Vettel for "allegedly not respecting double-yellow flags at Turn 1" in Q1 of qualifying, according to an F1 notice.
The hearing, issued shortly after 2200hrs local time on Saturday evening, will take place on Sunday at 133hrs local time at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Vettel, who is already starting the Bahrain GP down in 18th place, could be at risk of a back of the grid start if he is given a grid penalty following the hearing on Sunday before the race.
"If I panicked now it wouldn't help," Vettel told Sky Sports F1 after qualifying but before the stewards hearing was called. "For sure I'm upset and angry - it was not our fault in a way - not to make it through, but we have to take it and do what we can to prepare for tomorrow.
"It was a mess in the last sector warming up, I just made it across the line with less than one second and then I had two yellow flags, so not much we could do at that stage."
Related video
Perez "has to be patient" with himself after Bahrain Q3 miss
Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix – How to watch, start time & more
Why 2022 could be Leclerc's best chance to end his Monaco F1 curse
Charles Leclerc's ill-fortune at his home Formula 1 race is well-established. But his single lap pace and over longer runs during Friday practice will leave the Ferrari driver upbeat that he can make up for his Barcelona disappointment by finally recording a finish and perhaps even banking 25 world championship points in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix...
The inevitable consequence of the Liberty F1 popularity boom
Sell out crowds at Formula 1 races are the norm rather than the exception these days, as grand prix racing is enjoying a massive boom under Liberty Media. But the Spanish Grand Prix highlighted numerous issues some circuits may face as demand for F1 soars
The danger for Red Bull in its Barcelona F1 team orders choice
OPINION: Red Bull walked into a team orders saga on its way to taking a Spanish Grand Prix 1-2 last weekend, where it took the lead of the 2022 Formula 1 world championships for the first time. But its decisions have added an element of risk to later races.
Why Mercedes' Spanish GP gains aren't as grand as they seemed
Mercedes' strong showing in last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix prompted team boss Toto Wolff to say it had halved its deficit to the leaders and its Formula 1 title chances were back on after a rocky start to the 2022 campaign. But a closer inspection of the team's performance suggests its gains aren't as grand as they first appeared
What's next for the Green Red Bull controversy?
From the 'pink Mercedes' to the 'Green Red Bull', the Silverstone-based team has received suspicious glares from up and down the Formula 1 paddock over its car design exploits. But after being cleared by the FIA over its Spanish Grand Prix updates amid a backdrop of cries of foul play, what's next in this saga?
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
In an unusually hectic Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was denied a dominant performance by his Ferrari engine letting go which allowed Max Verstappen to pick up the pieces. But numerous flashpoints kept the race twisting and turning throughout, with one perfect score from an emerging contender
How Verstappen overcame his and Red Bull’s errors to win in Spain
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari engine disaster offered an open goal for Max Verstappen and Red Bull to strike, but the reigning Formula 1 world champion still had to solve multiple errors and profit from a begrudged assist from team-mate Sergio Perez, which created an unexpectedly eventful Spanish Grand Prix
Why Red Bull can win a Spanish GP that looked perfect for Ferrari
Formula 1's return to Spain on Friday ended with Ferrari leading the way from Mercedes, while Red Bull could only manage third fastest overall courtesy of Max Verstappen. But its chances of victory are far from remote with a deeper dig into the times despite Ferrari's strong start...