Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Recommended for you

How Kimi Antonelli “surprised” Toto Wolff to claim F1 Monaco GP grand slam

Formula 1
Monaco GP
How Kimi Antonelli “surprised” Toto Wolff to claim F1 Monaco GP grand slam

The Next Generation: Gabriele Mini

FIA F2
Monaco
The Next Generation: Gabriele Mini

Carlos Sainz hits out at “stupid risks” from F1 rivals: ‘How can a veteran like Nico do this?’

Formula 1
Monaco GP
Carlos Sainz hits out at “stupid risks” from F1 rivals: ‘How can a veteran like Nico do this?’

Anti-racing or ingenuity? Monaco's hold-up tactics might be in F1 for good

Feature
Formula 1
Feature
Monaco GP
Anti-racing or ingenuity? Monaco's hold-up tactics might be in F1 for good

MotoGP’s new era: one bike in practice and less track time from 2027

MotoGP
MotoGP’s new era: one bike in practice and less track time from 2027

What we learned from the Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day

Feature
WEC
Feature
24 Hours of Le Mans
What we learned from the Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day

Lewis Hamilton: Maiden Ferrari win "couldn't be closer"

Formula 1
Monaco GP
Lewis Hamilton: Maiden Ferrari win "couldn't be closer"

Naomi Schiff spots major Charles Leclerc change after Monaco GP frustration

Formula 1
Monaco GP
Naomi Schiff spots major Charles Leclerc change after Monaco GP frustration

Nov.6 (GMM) Christian Horner has admitted "human error" led to Sebastian Vettel having to start Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from the back of the field.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing waits to start his race from the pit lane
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing waits to start his race from the pit lane

Photo by: xpb.cc

After qualifying third in Abu Dhabi, the championship leader was asked by his Red Bull engineer to "stop the car" on the track, apparently with a technical problem.

But when the scrutineers tried to extract the mandatory 1-litre fuel sample from the RB8, the pot fell a few hundred millilitres short, resulting in the German's disqualification.

He started the race from the pitlane, Vettel only rescuing his title lead by charging through the field to third.

So what happened at the end of qualifying?

"To be honest, we have no clear answer but I suspect that it was human error," team boss Horner is quoted by Germany's Sport1.

"Renault gave us a clear statement that we should stop the car. Because we feared that it could be something that damages the engine, we followed their instructions," he added.

"We had to explain to the stewards why we stopped the car, they accepted our argument, but then we had to give the one litre sample."

Horner said Renault has not been able to explain why too little fuel was put into the RB8.

Previous article Title contenders already practising for title 'match point'
Next article Pressure on McLaren to up game for 2013

Top Comments

Latest news