For Ecclestone, the controversy over Vettel’s overtaking is a joke

Before the FIA cleared Sebastian Vettel of his alleged overtaking under a yellow flag, *Autosport* reveals that Ferrari, via its team director Stefano Domenicali, sent a letter to Jean Todt, president of the FIA, on Wednesday evening, asking for clarification regarding the German’s maneuver: Ferrari requested, through a letter, clarification from the FIA regarding Sebastian Vettel’s overtaking of Jean-Eric Vergne during the fourth lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the Italian team confirms.

The British site, however, reports that this letter should not lead to an official appeal from the men of Maranello, especially since Charlie Whiting, the race director, confirmed to the German newspaper Auto Motor und Sport that the driver reacts according to the first signal shown, in other words, to the green flag waved by a track marshal before the light signal preceding turn 4 of the Interlagos circuit.

However, it didn’t take much to make Bernie Ecclestone react. In charge of Formula 1’s commercial rights, and therefore its image, the octogenarian returned to the columns of the Telegraph about this controversy which he believes tarnishes a beautiful season: « It’s a shame because everything went well. It was a great race, a great championship. Now, everyone is talking about this story. The problem is that nobody knows what it’s about. »

For the Englishman, who planned to discuss it with Luca di Montezemolo, there’s no need to be controversial in this case, nor to file a possible appeal: « In the rules, normally, you have to protest but they [Ferrari] missed that moment. Then, there’s the fact that a green flag was shown, which no one can dispute. It’s a complete joke. What they say in their letter is false. I don’t think any action will be taken. It’s completely and totally false. Personally, I think it’s not really Ferrari’s style to do this. I think they really wanted to win, but it didn’t happen. What can they do? Take civil action? Maybe, but the matter is over before it even started. Nothing’s going to happen. »

For its part, the FIA indicated, through its communications officer, that a response would be provided to the clarifications requested by Ferrari: « The incident was not reported by the stewards at the moment because it did not seem necessary to report it at that time. Now that Ferrari has sent us a letter requesting an explanation, we will give it to them, » stated Norman Howell to the Associated Press.