Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel has incurred a suspended €25,000 fine for leaving an Austrian Grand Prix drivers’ meeting without permission.
Vettel’s fine is “suspended for the remainder of the 2022 season”, which means he will not have to pay it unless he commits another breach.
The cause for the investigation and fine was a “frustrated” Vettel leaving the traditional Friday drivers’ briefing – during which race control and stewarding consistency were discussed – when not permitted to do so.
This was adjudged to be a breach of Article 12.2.1.f of the FIA International Sporting Code, which governs breaches in the form of “any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA”.
The stewards’ verdict read: “The driver, Sebastian Vettel, left the drivers’ meeting that was held at 19:30 on Friday 8 July, without permission, and expressing frustration at the meeting.
“Drivers are not free to leave when they want, this being a breach of the requirement to attend. Drivers at this level are role models for every driver around the world and in the opinion of the stewards Vettel failed to live up to that standard in this case.
“Subsequently Vettel had a meeting with the race director [Niels Wittich], who informed the stewards that Vettel apologised without reservation, and that further, they had a very constructive conversation covering the topics in the meeting and more.
“The stewards determine that there is a breach, which cannot go without penalty.
“But based on the report from the race director there are factors in mitigation.”
