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Sebastian Vettel has been fined €5000 for his unauthorised use of a scooter on the track after his Aston Martin suffered an engine failure in the opening practice session at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
The four-time F1 world champion ground to a halt on-track and caused a red flag with smoke billowing from his Mercedes-powered AMR22 during FP1 at Albert Park.
Fireman Seb is quickly on the scene 👨🚒🧯#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/eGiOUX98zf
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 8, 2022
Vettel assisted with the extinguishing of his smoking car before hopping on a moped and riding on the track back to the paddock.
During FP2, Vettel was summoned to see the stewards who concluded several hours after Friday practice had ended that Vettel deserved a fine.
“The Stewards determine that Car 5 stopped on the circuit due to a mechanical issue,” the stewards report read.
“At the end of the session, Vettel sought a way to return to his pit. A marshal was at the location with a scooter. Vettel asked if he could drive the scooter in order to return to his pit.
“The marshal assented. Vettel got on the scooter, expecting the marshal to get on behind him. When he didn’t get on, Vettel departed alone for the pit, without the prior approval to do so.
“Meanwhile, the marshal was trying to contact race control for instructions.
“In driving on the track to his pit, instead of the designated route, Vettel breached Article 26.7 of the Formula 1 sporting regulations, which prohibits anyone from being on the track in the five-minute period after the end of a session, with the exception of specifically identified personnel, which makes no provision for drivers to have such access unless specifically authorized.”
F1 just isn't the same without Seb, is it? 😂
Big smiles and a little show for the crowd as he makes his way back to the pits at the end of the session 🙌#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/O2q5b9kUqL
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 8, 2022
The stewards handed Vettel a €5000 fine for the incident.
“Obviously we had a problem and there was a bit of smoke and we lost power so we had to stop on the track and then I did my best effort to limit the damage and get it off the track as soon as possible,” Vettel explained.
“It stopped our running, which was painful and unfortunately it also cost us the whole session in the afternoon, which was not ideal – I haven’t been in the car for a while. Plus the track is different. It will be fine tomorrow but it would have been nice to get more laps.”
Elsewhere, AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda was handed his second reprimand of the season for blocking the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz at Turn 2 during FP2.
Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll were also both investigated for alleged impeding but the stewards ruled no further action was necessary.
