In the build up to the Malaysian Grand Prix Sebastian Vettel was asked to describe the sound of the new V6 power units. His reply: “It’s shit”. This comment could land him in hot water with the FIA via a disrepute charge.
What’s that got to do with Daniel Ricciardo and the appeal—due to be heard on 14 April—to have his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix overturned? There’s been a suggestion that Red Bull could drop the appeal in a deal with the FIA which could see Vettel escape sanction for his comment.
In his column for The Sunday Times British journalist Mark Hughes said: “Threatening to punish Vettel for his negative comments could conceivably be used as leverage by the FIA to convince his team to withdraw their appeal.
“[Jean] Todt was dismayed that the World Champion should be so publicly critical. During the era of Todt’s predecessor, Max Mosley, occasional use was made of article 151c of the regulations—bringing the sport into disrepute—to quell dissent. This is not Todt’s style, though the regulation provides an underlying threat to Vettel and Red Bull.”
We couldn’t care less what happens to Vettel, aside from the belief that his comment was pretty harmless and he should be free to air his views. However, we would care a lot if Red Bull chose to drop its appeal on Ricciardo’s behalf in order to protect Vettel.
We can’t imagine they would be that piss weak.
[Source: Sky Sports F1 | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images | Thanks to John for the tip]
7 replies on “Would Red Bull really drop the Ricciardo appeal?”
Let Vettel take it on the chin and show the new blood that his solid performances in Australia and [at least up to lap 41] in Malaysia are appreciated by the team. We simply can not have this start to happen again like it did with Mark.
As one commentator put it, F1 is a small sport wrapped around by large businesses.
If that happens as has been hypothesised, that is utterly crapballs. Ridiculous. Webber would understand.
It’s a bit funny how all aussies jump on Vettel’s neck! I can understand the frustration, since he was faster and BETTER than Mark Webber, but what he said about the engines (totally true!) has nothing to do with Ricciardo, he doesn’t have to be punished for speaking his mind. Sometimes I wonder if the FIA is a communist organisation of some sort, they never listen to anyone, nor the fans. They simply don’t care what fans want to see in F1.
About Ricciardo, he drove a very good race in Australia and in Malaysia to be honest, but everything bad that has happened to him so far is Red Bull’s own fault! I’m not sure how fair the penalty he recieved in Melbourne was, but why couldn’t Red Bull use their fuel sensor like everyone else? Rules are rules, however , they should have just taken RB’s points and NOT Ricciardo’s (like it happen with the McLaren drivers back in 07!), because it really wasn’t his fault and it’s not like that made the car any faster!
While I have some respect for Mark Hughes, in this case, I cannot logically come to the same conclusion with his fear. There hasn’t been a precedent before hand suggesting that this thing is widely done by the FIA… Ultimately the Fuel Flow regulators are not going to go away because RBR drop an appeal. All teams are eager to see the outcome of RBRs appeal, not just in F1 but also in the WEC.
It’s unlikely to happen, but I’d love to see Vettel get slapped with a disrepute charge.
REJECTED!
Full details are yet to be published by the FIA, it will be interesting to see if appealing it will have further penalties which wouldn’t have been applied if they just took it like men the first time around.