Sebastian Vettel has been disqualified from the results of the Hungarian Grand Prix after Aston Martin were unable to provide the required fuel sample specified in the Formula 1 technical regulations.
Following a race-long battle with eventual race winner Esteban Ocon, the four-time World Champion finished in second place but pulled to the side of the track at Turn 12 during the slow down lap.
After going through the technical checks after the race, Vettel’s AMR21 was only able to provide 0.3 litres of fuel instead of the one-litre sample required by Article 6.6.2 of the Formula 1 Technical Regulations.
“After the race it was not possible to take a 1.0 litre sample of fuel from car 5,” confirmed an FIA statement. “The team was given several opportunities to attempt to remove the required amount of fuel from the tank, however it was only possible to pump 0.3 litres out.
“During the hearing in presence of the FIA Technical Delegate and the FIA Technical Director the team principal of Aston Martin stated that there must be 1,44 litres left in the tank, but they are not able to get it out. This figure is calculated using the FFM or injector model. Given this situation, car No. 5 is not in compliance with the requirements of Art. 6.6 FIA Technical Regulations. According to Art. 6.6.2 competitors must ensure that a 1.0 litre sample of fuel may be taken from the car at any time.
“The procedure was followed however the 1.0 litre sample of fuel was unable to be taken. The Stewards determine to apply the standard penalty for technical infringements. Therefore they took into account, that it shall be no defence to claim that no performance advantage was obtained.”
As a result of Vettel’s disqualification, Lewis Hamilton has been elevated to second place while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz inherits the final spot on the podium.
The remaining drivers move up a spot, with Kimi Raikkonen inheriting the final point for Alfa Romeo.
Vettel’s exclusion affects the Drivers’ Standings, with Hamilton gaining an extra three points, and Max Verstappen one, meaning the Briton now heads the championship by eight points.
Hmmm. I feel Mercedes fingers in this, or possibly his attitude to the T-shirt infringement made him a FIA target.
F1 wants Mercedes to win every week so they will do what ever it takes to make sure they do it
Amazing how some idiots can believe Mercedes had involvement, these are clear cut technical rules. End of.
Es clara la preferencia una y otra vez, para que Mercedes gane o salga beneficiado, en cualquier situación.
Espero qué Red Bull, se calme yy sean más inteligentes ( incluido Checo) y le den la vuelta a Mercedes, a la FIA y Hamilton. Al final del. Campeonato
So, if you crash other cars out and destroy opponents’ budget for the rest of the season you get ten seconds stop and go. If you have no fuel you are disqualified. If you use an illegal system like DAS for an entire season you are fine. Very logic rules.
DAS was legal, so no argument there.
DAS was totally legal and this fuel rule has been around for YEARS. Get a grip Enzo.
I’m a Mercedes fan and don’t believe there was any tempering but either way I am devastated by this. How come he gets disqualified for a missing 0.7litres of fuel when Lewis got a 10sec penalty for taking out Max. It’s so unfair☹️
One is a sporting incident (a crash) and one is a technical infringement – technical infringement’s will always carrier a heavier penalty.
Mercedes buys another championship
So the stewards make yet another decision to hand more points to the F1 cheats, Mercedes and Hamilton. 0.3L, which equates to just over half a pint, is surely still enough to carry out their checking procedures. Aston Martin earned their second place finish and this stinks almost as much as the sly Hamilton’s antics at the British Grand Prix.
This isn’t the first time a car has been DSQ for the same issue. It’s black and white in the rulebook, fail to provide a sample is an instant DSQ. So no conspiracy here.
This was clearly done on purpose on Mercedes part to attempt eliminate both Red Bull cars from the race & make more ground in the point standings. They having hard time beating them on speed so why not take them out of the race. Bunch of cowards including F1 for letting Mercedes get away with it. Favoritims as always
Are you kidding? Mercedes were quicker in Hungary, they took 1-2 in qualifying. There was no need to take out Red Bull.
Hahaha! So there’s Bottas thinking in the moment… “Let’s see, I’ll just fall back a wee bit so that someone – oh look, there’s Lando – will come around past me. Now, if I can rear-end Lando just right, I can punt him into Max, and if I play this just right, maybe I can even take out Sergio as well.” And then, “Woo-Hoo, it worked! Just like we planned it in our race preparations!” Yes of course, clearly that must’ve been on purpose, lol. People, if you think the past two weeks’ competitive mistakes by Hamilton & Bottas were “intentional take-outs”, not racing incidents, may I suggest you dig up some video of Senna (successfully) vs Prost, or Schumacher (unsuccessfully) vs Villeneuve – that’s what blatant take-outs look like!
That said, in spite of the fuel sample rule being very black & white, I’m still very sad for Vettel that he had to pay such a severe price for that. Very tough mistake by Aston Martin. Nothing to do with the evil Mercedes camp, lol.
Its pretty funny seeing people blame merc for something they had nothing to do with. The fuel rule has been around for ages because cars would always stop on the victory lap after running out of fuel. It was a farce. Get a grip folks. This is all on Astin Martin.
Art. 6.6.2 states “Competitors must ensure that a 1.0 litre sample of fuel may be taken from the car at any time during the Event”. however, it does not state the penalty for not complying. Very harsh decision from the FIA me thinks, let the punishment fit the crime.