While Romain Grosjean was watching the Italian GP instead of participating in it due to his one-race ban from the Belgian GP, the stewards for Sunday’s race at Monza handed down a drive-through penalty for Sebastian Vettel for running Fernando Alonso off the circuit as the Spaniard attempted to pass the German at the same location as a similar but revers order incident in 2011’s race. some fans have wondered if this isn’t more Ferrari assistance by the stewards while other say the two incidents, while similar, had different results as Alonso was harsh but left more room than Vettel did.
The FIA had released a clarification about leaving a car-width when a driver is being passed and suggested that if the front wing of the passer was alongside the rear tire of the passee, then that constituted leaving enough room for a passing attempt. How did you see today’s incident? Was the penalty the right call or is Formula One in a moment of hyper-critical scrutineering based upon the Grosjean ban and some erratic driving of late? For Red Bull’s boss Christian Horner, the penalty was harsh:
“It is irrelevant effectively after the DNF, but judge it for yourself – it seemed a bit harsh. It didn’t seem to warrant a penalty but that is my opinion.”
And what did Sebastian Vettel think of it?
“From my point of view no, but it is not for me to judge.”
Fernando Alonso was immediately on the radio and was nonplussed with the move. He later said:
“Last year it was not penalised, this year it has been. I think there is a big difference for the people who understand this movement.”
So what is your take on the penalty? Was it the right call?
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