Vettel wants changes to jump start rules

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Sebastian Vettel has called on F1 to change the rules governing car movement when the red lights go out at the start of a race.

Following Valtteri Bottas blistering launch off the grid of the Austrian GP last Sunday, Vettel disputed the Finn's equally fast reaction time, estimated at 0.201 of a second.

Current rules permit some movement of the car after the fifth light goes on, allowing for the engagement of the clutch.

Yet Vettel says that this means a driver can anticipate the start of the race, rather than react purely to the lights going out.

"If you're moving exactly at the same point the lights go off you definitely are on the risky side rather than the safe side," admitted Bottas last weekend.

"Everyone is obviously free to kind of guess when the lights go off."

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However, Vettel said that is wrong.

"He got away with it because that's the way the rules are," said the Ferrari driver.

"So we should look at the rules more closely.

"I don't think any of us would risk trying to repeat what he did. If he tried it again he would not succeed, because it's impossible to predict the time of the start.

"His car started to move just before the lights went out. But even if you start at the same time, the human response is still greater than zero tenths of a second."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.