Lewis Hamilton raised the matter of Sebastian Vettel’s failure to reattach his steering wheel in Malaysia with race director Charlie Whiting.
Drivers are required to reattach their steering wheel after leaving their cars. However Vettel did not do this following his collision with Lance Stroll at the end of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Article 22.5 of the sporting regulations states: “A driver who abandons a car must leave it in neutral or with the clutch disengaged, with the ERS shut down and with the steering wheel in place.” Vettel was not investigated by the stewards because Whiting did not report the matter to them.
“Seb actually took the steering wheel with him,” Whiting told Hamilton and the assembled drivers, including Vettel.
“I think it was a reasonable, common sense approach for us to take not to do anything about the face he didn’t leave it on the car,” Whiting explained.
“The race had finished and the car clearly didn’t need a steering wheel for the marshals to manoeuvre it, which is the sole reason for asking you to leave the steering wheel with it. For me, under the circumstances, it was not worth reporting to the stewards.”
The last time someone was penalised for failing to replace the steering wheel on a car was three years ago. The driver, Pastor Maldonado, was given a reprimand.
2017 Malaysian Grand Prix
- Vettel: Stroll changed direction without looking
- Ferrari ‘not fully confident’ of fix for fault which stopped both cars in Malaysia
- New video from Stroll’s car reveals Vettel crash view the stewards didn’t see
- 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix team radio transcript
- Vettel to avoid grid penalty as Ferrari confirm Malaysia gearbox is working
ispookie666
8th October 2017, 15:53
By hook or crook – how desperate is he. He’s a brilliant driver but don’t remember any other driver trying to deliberately screw others over. Karma is a b**** – it will come back. See Alonso, vettel etc..
Jabosha (@jabosha)
9th October 2017, 4:22
So you don’t recall or never heard of Senna screwing Prost over at first corner, Suzuka 1990?
Martijn (@)
9th October 2017, 9:12
Yeah, that was a totally comparible situation
magon4 (@magon4)
9th October 2017, 10:41
hahahahahahahaha @mayrton
Deano
9th October 2017, 11:11
Wow, what a statement, have you been holding on to that for 27 years mate? Not comparable in the slightest
Jabosha (@jabosha)
11th October 2017, 19:08
It illustrates just how wrong his statement is about screwing over other drivers. Some will go to extreme lengths to screw another driver over. There are tons of other examples that prove his statement incorrect. I’m sorry some of you missed this.
Damon (@damon)
9th October 2017, 9:45
WHAT? Calm down man. Lewis just raised a question about the rules THEY BOTH have to abide to.
If Vettel deserved (and so received) a penalty it would’ve been because of his own wrong-doing, not anything Lewis had done.
If Hamilton doesn’t stick his steering wheel back next time he retires, he will be subject to the same rules.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
9th October 2017, 9:59
Drivers using every bit they can find to take advantage of are legion.
Lee1
9th October 2017, 11:38
Do you do not remember vettel complaining so much about verstappen that a new rule was introduced? You don’t then remember vettel the ranting at Charlie whiting over the radio to punish max at Mexico? Only hilariously ending up as the first person to be punished under the new rule that was introduced?
Hamilton’s question was different. He wasn’t calling for vettel to be punished. He was asking why he wasn’t. Lots of drivers do this so they can fully understand what they are and are not allowed to do.
petebaldwin (@)
9th October 2017, 11:55
That desperation to win is the reason he’s as good as he is. Schumacher had it. So did Senna and Prost. Alonso and Vettel have it as well….
For comparison, Button doesn’t and never did. He’s a good driver but he lacks that edge that comes from putting everything on the line to win.
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
9th October 2017, 12:05
Desperate? I don’t know how desperate he is but actions that are perfectly common (see BT46B, appeal about VET ignoring flags post-2012, etc. that’d be more desperate) are not a good way to measure desperateness.
Jaime
9th October 2017, 12:21
Grosjean asks in the same meeting if they’re allowed to undo the belts, noting that Hamilton usually does. Charle answers and that’s it, they’re just clarifying what they can/can’t do, or the reason for it. Charlie says you can loosen them, but not undo them, and Lewis says he undoes them. I mean, I’m no Hamilton fan but I don’t think drivers should be judged for what they ask in a driver briefing.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
8th October 2017, 15:58
Love those videos, but I hope they don’t abuse on showing them otherwise the drivers might react to being filmed and that takes away something out of it.
F Truth (@)
8th October 2017, 16:00
I agree, these videos really humanise the competitors more than any interview i’ve seen of late.
Strontium (@strontium)
8th October 2017, 16:23
It’s definitely a bit worrying. As I said last time, it’s cool as a one-off, but if they they keep doing this it will become a problem with the media and fans trying to use it to judge drivers for raising issues. It’s already happening in the comments section (obviously YouTube comments are not a shining example to the world, to say the least), and it could spread
SaraJ (@sjzelli)
8th October 2017, 17:15
It’s ok Lewis. It’s your 4th Sunday-drive championship. Stop being petty and just worship your peerless car which handed you all the statistics.
David BR (@david-br)
8th October 2017, 17:20
Quite. Sunday-drive championship is a petty insult after he’s beaten off Vettel with qualifying and race performances, and not having needless pram-cleaning moments.
Baron
8th October 2017, 18:02
Mercedes did that.
And no, Bottas is not the standard of F1.
David BR (@david-br)
8th October 2017, 21:28
Be serious at least.
Damon (@damon)
9th October 2017, 9:47
When did Vettel himself win a championship in not a dominating car?
magon4 (@magon4)
9th October 2017, 10:42
2012. @damon
Baron (@baron)
9th October 2017, 10:53
I wish to disassociate myself with the “other” Baron’s remarks. I’m really fed up with “it’s the car” rants. Of course it is, to a degree. The best drivers always get the best cars, period. Why is that? (Rhetorical question)
F Truth (@)
8th October 2017, 17:24
@sjzelli someone’s feeling salty today. 😂
Ninjenius (@ninjenius)
9th October 2017, 10:29
@offdutyrockstar Today? Having observed SaraJ’s comments over the past months I think he/she is permanently trapped inside a giant salt shaker. Only contributes by moaning, although it is very entertaining.
Thomas
8th October 2017, 17:34
+1, and love the way Grosjean intervenes: “Lewis if you want, we can all play that game”, and also that Vettel actually avoids falling to the same petty level, quietly taking it on the chin instead while his competitor is trying to damage him.
Bob C.
8th October 2017, 17:52
When I watched this I just couldn’t help thinking that having two small children in the familly seem to have taught Grosjean a thing or two…
F Truth (@)
9th October 2017, 10:44
So asking a question calmly in an open forum regarding a rule is petty yet intentionally crashing into your competitor and telling the race director to F off is dignified yes? 😂
GtisBetter (@)
8th October 2017, 17:35
It’s not about being petty, but about stewards responsibility. The rule is clear, the video is clear, why was there no action? It will only help the stewards if people ask them this question, cause it will be clearer from that moment. Vettel got away with one.
Frasier (@frasier)
8th October 2017, 18:18
Quite so. If the stewards in the future want get picky with a driver who takes his steering wheel away under similar circumstance, and that driver hadn’t just crashed a Ferrari, they might be tempted to hand out a penalty and then claim this incident wasn’t a precedent for not doing so.
steveetienne
8th October 2017, 22:34
remind us sara about the peerless car vettel won his 4 titles in.
SaraJ (@sjzelli)
9th October 2017, 0:35
Either understand those years were SO much closer, or stop watching F1 in general. Lamest argument today – which says something
Blazzz
9th October 2017, 8:43
Stop cherry picking. Vettel won in dominant cars. Now he and Ferrari have cracked under pressure. 25 points Vettel threw away in Singapore, 13 points in Baku. Without those brain fart moments Vettel would still be in it despite the reliability issues.
magon4 (@magon4)
9th October 2017, 10:49
“Vettel threw 25 points away” – I can’t here this british narrative anymore…
David BR (@david-br)
9th October 2017, 13:06
@magon4 You’re right, it was 18 points he threw away. No chance he was going to beat Verstappen on that track.
Damon (@damon)
9th October 2017, 9:51
A close championship gives you the same trophy, Sara.
Murph (@)
9th October 2017, 14:15
@sjzelli
“Either understand those years were SO much closer, or stop watching F1 in general. Lamest argument today – which says something”
There is a simple explanation for those years being so much closer:
Vettel isn’t as good as Hamilton.
SaraJ (@sjzelli)
9th October 2017, 19:01
Puh-lease. I certainly can’t be baited into this conversation. Check with me in 10 years and we’ll compare notes. …Still laughing that you actually believe that to be true.
Blazzz
9th October 2017, 8:39
You must be new to F1. It has always been about car and driver combo. Tell me the last time someone won the WDC without a Constructors’ winning car. Oh hang on… Look who’s on that list too.
It’s not like you have an agenda at all is it :)
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
9th October 2017, 12:17
It’s not like he failed to win the WDC the previous year with a car that scored more points (all of which DSQ’d for the WCC but 100% intact in the WDC) than the Ferrari that didn’t fail to.
Look, HAM is a great driver, (far) greater than an F-load of other WDC’s, but your (and others’) treating him as if a (demi-)god (something HAM himself doesn’t actually do btw), complete with hyperbole, is just repulsive. ALO had that kind of commenters about him as well, but does it really take a driver driving a total, absolute lemon powered by dreams plus GP2 specs for years on end (Indy 500 aside) for people to stop doing that despite the driver himself (probably) not driving worse?
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
9th October 2017, 12:07
@sjzelli That’s not how peerless works. I thought people would realise how not-very-dominant VET’s WDC-winning cars were after 2014 and 2015 and 2016. This year….it’s not even at the RB6/7/8/9’s llevel.
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
9th October 2017, 12:23
oh, you mean to include 2014-2016? Fair enough – still, ROS was no slouch though
Andy
31st December 2017, 15:51
If Lewis was in the Ferrari he would have won last year’s championship.. He has won in every f1 car he has driven in.. Seb threw last year’s title away with petty immature behaviour..Trying to squeeze other drivers off track.. Marina bay like alonso said he only had to keep the wheel straight That deliberate!! move in Mexico to try and ruin Hamiltons race… Ferrari won’t back him for long with them kinda tactics.. Besides karma will always win..
Baron
8th October 2017, 18:05
So mouch for “I’ll settle things on track” Hamilton preaches.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
9th October 2017, 10:01
true! :D
Tiomkin
9th October 2017, 10:47
Rules are rules expect when the apply to Vettel. He can crash cars, bump into people, break clearly laid down rules and nobody does a thing about it. F1 is a joke.
David BR (@david-br)
9th October 2017, 13:18
Actually Hamilton has extremely good reason to question FIA stewarding decisions, given his own experience of their inconsistent application. Clearly he didn’t think Vettel would be retrospectively penalized because he asked, so your comment makes absolutely no sense. Nothing was going to be settled differenly. He was asking for clarification of the rules, which – incredible as it might seem – is why they have these kinds of meetings.
Anyhow, I also think Hamilton was maybe a tiny bit suspicious, or simply curious, about why Vettel was so eager to take the steering wheel. Maybe just so it wouldn’t be stolen, maybe not.
F1ed (@rinodina)
12th October 2017, 11:12
Just for the record: +1
SaraJ (@sjzelli)
8th October 2017, 18:59
Shamilton – Malaysia 2016:
“Someone doesn’t want me to win this year. We have so many engines made for drivers, but mine are the only ones failing this year”
Sebastian Vettel – Japan 2017:
“Being critical is part of the job, but I have to protect them (the team). We’ll go flat out for the next four races”
Nuff said.
F Truth (@)
8th October 2017, 19:28
Get over it.
Michael Brown (@)
8th October 2017, 19:42
Funny how “someone” doesn’t want Vettel to win this year eh?
racerdude7730 (@racerdude7730)
8th October 2017, 20:55
When’s vettel ever said this? He hasn’t so try harder next time with a comeback
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
9th October 2017, 12:26
@sjzelli
are you saying HAM doesn’t say anything to that tone?
Baron
9th October 2017, 23:20
@davidnotcoulthard
He didn’t last year.
Or the year before.
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
9th October 2017, 12:45
why do people keep doing this with people’s names?
David BR (@david-br)
9th October 2017, 13:11
@sjzelli I’m not surprised Vettel fans fall for the ‘we must protect the team line’ but it’s completely bogus. What does it actually say? It says: the team (car) has a problem, not me. Which wouldn’t be curious, of course, except for Vettel’s poor judgements on track this season, which have cost him and Ferrari very valuable points, probably the title.
So just how noble is Vettel’s attitude? Not in the slightest, I’d say. More a case of throwing the team under the bus.
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
9th October 2017, 14:19
@david-br
That’s not the only kind of judgements on-track VET’s made this season though to be fair.
(though OTOH I don’t recall HAM making poor judgements this season in case anyone wants to bring the WDC table into the discussion. He was slow a couple of times, but a repeat of Baku 2016’s Q3 is not something one in the right mind would be expecting from HAM right now)
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
9th October 2017, 14:18
@sjzelli Yes Hamilton is a horrible driver. Look at Rosberg – he was setting records to match Vettel’s when he decided to retire.
Do you know who else usually retires the next day after they win? People who win the lottery:-) Even Rosberg couldn’t argue that he had a 1-in-a-million chance to win as long as Lewis could get his fingers on the wheel.
Baron
9th October 2017, 23:24
@freelittlebirds
Rosberg felt he had done the best he could in 2016. Which makes sense if you look at 2015 and 2014.
Rosberg couldn’t manage to beat Webber so for him to land a Mercedes drive was fantastic. Then to have an inconsistent teammate like Hamilton was a bonus. All he had to do was match a solid season by his standards with a so-so season from Hamilton. That’s what he did.
Michael Brown (@)
8th October 2017, 19:47
Article 22.5 of the sporting regulations states: “A driver who abandons a car must leave it in neutral or with the clutch disengaged, with the ERS shut down and with the steering wheel in place.”
“The race had finished and the car clearly didn’t need a steering wheel for the marshals to manoeuvre it, which is the sole reason for asking you to leave the steering wheel with it. For me, under the circumstances, it was not worth reporting to the stewards.”
I didn’t get that from Article 22.5. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a mind reader so I can’t tell what the reason for that rule existing is.
grat
8th October 2017, 19:59
Ah. So according to Charlie Whiting, the word “must” means “we’re asking nicely”.
I was pretty sure that the word “must” in terms of rules meant “this is a requirement”, but it’s good to know that “must” implies an optional component.
… and the FIA wonders why people have such contempt for them.
clones
8th October 2017, 20:59
Is Charlie w a liability to the sport?
Lancer033 (@lancer033)
8th October 2017, 23:00
almost….it means must for every team except Ferrari. Ferr