The FIA has no doubt about the validity of Vettel’s overtake at Interlagos
While several media outlets reported that Ferrari was considering an appeal after the controversy over Sebastian Vettel's overtaking under a yellow flag, the FIA determined, through Autosport, that the maneuver by the German world champion was legal, as a track marshal waved a green flag before the Red Bull driver initiated his overtaking of Vergne.
While a widely circulated onboard camera video on the Internet showed Sebastian Vettel overtaking Jean-Eric Vergne under yellow flag conditions during the recent Brazilian Grand Prix, the possibility of an appeal by Scuderia Ferrari to the International Automobile Federation, as permitted by article 179b of the International Sporting Code, was a topic of discussion. Although Luca Colajanni, head of communications at Maranello, denied such intentions from the Italian team, several media outlets, including Sky Sports, reported that Ferrari was closely examining the different videos to determine if an appeal was warranted.
This appeal, some do not wish for it, including in Spain where Carlos Gracia, vice-president of the FIA, judged, according to the site ZoomNews, that Ferrari should not win a championship in this manner, adding that it would be like refereeing a football match again.
The FIA, however, nipped any potential protest in the bud by stating, when questioned by Autosport, that there was no doubt that Sebastian Vettel’s overtaking was legitimate. Indeed, a track marshal, hidden in most videos by the display of various car data (engine speed, velocity, use of DRS and KERS, etc.), waved a green flag before Sebastian Vettel even began his maneuver on Jean-Eric Vergne. Article 2.4.1 of Appendix H of the International Sporting Code stipulates that if multiple signaling means are used, the Specific Regulations of the event must specify which is regulatory. And although the F1 Sporting Regulations remain silent on the matter, Autosport notes that, during the introduction of light panels in 2007, Charlie Whiting, the race director, had clearly told the drivers that when there are two consecutive signals from a flag and a panel, the first one counts.
This should therefore put an end to the controversy and restore the legitimacy of Sebastian Vettel in everyone’s eyes, which may have been called into question. It remains to be seen whether lessons can be learned from this episode so that, in the era of mass Internet and social networks that allow everyone to become judge – and sometimes party – doubt can no longer tarnish the decisions made by the FIA as well as the image of Formula 1 and its representatives. Indeed, this is not the first time this season that a controversy has arisen due to regulatory subtleties that sometimes escape both enthusiasts and professionals.
