Ferrari informs FIA of intent to appeal Vettel penalty

© XPB 

Scuderia Ferrari has informed the FIA that it will appeal the time penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel a win in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

The German driver was hit with a 5-second penalty for rejoining the track in an unsafe manner and forcing Lewis Hamilton to take evasive action.

The pair were battling at the head of the field when Vettel messed up his entry into Montreal's Turn 3 with 22 laps to go. The Ferrari took to the grass and rejoined the track in the path of the Mercedes.

Vettel remained in front until the checkered flag but he's lead over Hamilton wasn't enough to make up for the 5-second penalty.

Ferrari - which has 96 hours to formally lodge its appeal - contends that Vettel did not rejoin the track in an unsafe manner or purposefully force Hamilton off the circuit's limits.

The stewards decision read as follows:

"The stewards reviewed video evidence and determined that Car 5, left the track at Turn 3, rejoined the track at Turn 4 in an unsafe manner and forced car 44 off track. Car 44 had to take evasive action to avoid a collision."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter