Stewards dismiss Ferrari review of Vettel penalty

Ferrari's request for Sebastian Vettel's penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix to be reconsidered has been dismissed after an initial hearing.

The stewards reconvened by teleconference after Ferrari claimed new evidence made it necessary to revisit the incident which saw Vettel handed a ten-second time penalty for moving under braking. Ferrari said the penalty - demoting Vettel from third to fifth in Mexico - was setting a precedent as it was the application of a newly clarified regulation.

With Jock Clear representing Ferrari and Christian Horner and Jonathan Wheatley involved for Red Bull, the FIA decided there was no new evidence to warrant further review of the penalty.

The full FIA explanation reads:

"Scuderia Ferrari argued in its written submission that the “new element”, in accordance with Article 14.1, existed. In its verbal submissions it also argued that there were two “new elements”.

"Specifically the Scuderia argued that the Race Director, pursuant to Article 27.4 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, had the “power” to instruct the driver of Car 33 Max Verstappen, to give back the alleged advantage he had gained when leaving the track on a previous lap to that of the incident involving Car 5 and Car 3 driven by Daniel Riccardo.

"Scuderia Ferrari also argued that the GPS data it presented was a “new element”. The Stewards heard extensive verbal submission and argument for all parties.

"In relation to the matter of the Race Director having the “power” to instruct the driver of Car 33 to give back the alleged advantage, we note firstly that the relevant article gives the Race Director “absolute authority” to allow the driver to give back a position. It does not imply an obligation to do so. The fact that the Race Director did not exercise his discretion is not relevant to the decision taken in Document 38.

"In relation to the GPS data we note that this data is available to teams during the race. It is also available to, and referred to by, the stewards, in the Stewards Room during the race.

"When asked if the GPS data in any way contradicted the telemetry and other evidence that the Stewards concluded showed that the driver of Car 5 had steered whilst under braking at Turn 4, Mr Clear conceded that it did not.

"Article 14.2 of the International Sporting Code gives the Stewards the sole discretion to determine if a new element exists.

"Having received all the written and verbal submissions and carefully considered them, the Stewards decide there is no new element."

All parties have the right to appeal.

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