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Vettel could be stripped of F1 title

Sport
SAO PAOLO — Sebastian Vettel’s world title could be in serious jeopardy over an illegal overtaking manoeuvre by the Red Bull driver during Sunday’s chaotic season ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

SAO PAOLO — Sebastian Vettel’s world title could be in serious jeopardy over an illegal overtaking manoeuvre by the Red Bull driver during Sunday’s chaotic season ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

Report by Daily Mail

Footage circulating on YouTube appears to show triple drivers’ champion Vettel overtaking Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne under yellow flag conditions in the early laps of the rain affected race at Interlagos.

Overtaking is outlawed under such a caution by race stewards and usually results in the guilty party being handed a drive-through penalty during the race. However, in cases where the infringement is not spotted prior to the chequered flag, the customary punishment is 20 second penalty handed out retrospectively.

Vettel finished sixth in the race, while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso came home in second meaning he was beaten to the drivers’ title by just three points by his Red Bull rival. The motorsport’s world governing body, the FIA, have until today to investigate, then Vettel could be demoted to eighth place if a time penalty is applied.

Such a dramatic outcome would see Alonso crowned champion for a third time by a solitary point. Vettel staged a remarkable recovery to take the crown in the spectacular season finale after a first lap collision with Bruno Senna left him dead last.

Suspicions of illegality in passing moves on an HRT backmarker and Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber proved unfounded, but it is the footage of Vettel’s move on Vergne, who drives for Red Bull’s sister team, which is being forensically examined by Ferrari’s top brass who spent Wednesday afternoon locked in talks at their Maranello headquarters. A Ferrari spokesman would only confirm that: “Anything that threatens the credibility of the championship has to be examined.”

Speaking after clinching the drivers’ championship for third time in successive years, Vettel spoke out about the “dirty tricks” Red Bull’s competitors had used to derail his title charge.

The remark was taken by most observers to be in reference to Ferrari’s decision to sabotage Felipe Massa’s gearbox at the penultimate race in Austin in order to boost teammate Alonso’s grid position. In addition, Red Bull have had to alter their car on numerous occasions this season after complaints by rival teams regarding the legality of their 2012 challenger’s design.

Meanwhile, Alonso tweeted after the race seemingly questioning the manner of Vettel’s comeback in Brazil, posting: “I have no miracles, I make the correct laws my miracles.”