Sebastian Vettel has been disqualified from qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after he failed to return to the pits and then failed to provide the necessary fuel sample to the FIA.
The Red Bull driver was summoned to the stewards along with representatives from the team and Renault, their engine supplier. Following a lengthly meeting which lasted some four hours, the stewards announced Vettel’s times would be deleted.
However, as was the case with Lewis Hamilton in Spain earlier in the season, the driver may start the event from the back of the grid. Red Bull have however opted to the start from the pit-lane on Sunday.
Article 6.6.2 of the Technical Regulations states that “competitors must ensure that a one litre sample of fuel may be taken from the car at any time during the Event.
“Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the stewards of the meeting), if a sample of fuel is required after a practice session the car concerned must have first been driven back to the pits under its own power.”
In this case, Vettel failed to return to the pits and failed to supply the mandatory fuel sample.
The team accepted the decision following the FIA’s explanation behind the penalty which can be read below.
“The stewards heard from the driver and team representatives and studied telemetry evidence that showed the reason why the car was stopped,” it read.
“The Stewards accepted the explanation and considered the incident as being a case of force majeure.
“However a report was received from the Technical Delegate that showed during post-qualifying scrutineering an insufficient quantity of fuel for sampling purposes.”
