F1 drivers warned over grid positions after Vettel incident

F1 drivers have been told that anyone copying Sebastian Vettel’s strategy of starting outside his grid box in China is likely to get a penalty, after the German himself escaped without sanction.

Charlie Whiting, Race Director, FIA, talks with Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08, and Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H, at the start

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08, leads Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08, Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF70H, at the start

The subject was discussed at a heated drivers’ briefing on Friday evening, when Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were among the loudest voices as drivers questioned the decision that saw Vettel go unpenalised.

Race director Charlie Whiting told the drivers that the start rules have not changed for 20 years, and in that time there have only been two extreme cases of drivers being to the left or right of the their grid boxes – Daniel Ricciardo in Japan last year, which went unreported to the stewards, and Vettel in China.

Vettel was trying to avoid putting his rear tyres either on the white line or on the old lines which had been painted over in black but remained slippery.

Whiting could see that Vettel was out of position and could have aborted the start, which would have seen the German forced to start from the pitlane.

But instead Whiting opted to give Vettel the benefit of the doubt and referred the matter to the stewards, who then made the call that there would be no penalty.

However, since China, the FIA has reviewed the situation - and in a group call with all the FIA stewards this week it was decided that a repeat would probably result in a sanction, something the drivers have now been informed of.

Much of the discussion in the drivers’ briefing had to do with their desire to have firm guidelines on how far they can push the limits.

Whiting pointed out that at least half the grid was outside their boxes in China, and that having a definitive limit of 10 centimetres or similar would be impossible to enforce.

In effect, the race director asked the drivers to use their common sense and do their best to place their cars inside the boxes.

“Charlie gave us his opinion and he said that if what Sebastian did happens again, then you might not get away with it,” Force India driver Sergio Perez told Motorsport.com.

“I think Sebastian was on the limit from that side and, if Charlie sees that again, it might be a penalty.

“I hope it doesn’t happen as we might get into an argument if another driver gets a penalty. So what will common sense be? It is a hard decision for the stewards.”