Pierre Gasly Puncture: Sebastian Vettel Calls Out F1’s Double-Standards in Qatar

Sebastian Vettel finished P10 in the Qualifying at the Losail International Circuit after he had to abort his final lap. In an interview that followed, he highlighted the inconsistency in the rules and clearly didn’t seem happy about it.

During the final moments in Q3, AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly, who was on an incredible run in both practice sessions, got a puncture in the final sector. The German, who was in his final lap, had to abort owing to the yellow flag.

Sebastian Vettel has concerns over inconsistency in rules

Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso clearly slowed down after the Frenchman’s puncture. However, Bottas and Verstappen, who were on their flying laps did not let the wrecked AlphaTauri distract them.

Notably, Vettel got penalized for not slowing down during the yellow flag in Bahrain GP. “We discuss about the rules all year long, sometimes it is like this or like that, I got a harsh penalty although I haven‘t seen a yellow flag in Bahrain.

“When a car stopped on track, for me it‘s a double yellow, I aborted my lap, not sure what happened behind me.”

Verstappen and Bottas went ahead with the flying lap, securing a front and second-row start respectively for the Sunday race. This didn’t sit right with the German. “There was a car parked on the track, normally that’s a double yellow. I don’t know what happened after or behind me,” he said about the incident.

What do the yellow flag rules say?

As per F1 regulations, a driver must slow down under yellow flags. “Reduce your speed, do not overtake, and be prepared to change direction. There is a hazard beside or partly on the track. It must be evident that a driver has reduced speed; this means a driver is expected to have braked earlier and/or noticeably reduced speed in that sector,” says the rulebook.

Vettel is not particularly happy with this difference of approach towards the application of rules from the FIA.

Read Also: Qatar Grand Prix Qualifying Report: Perez Leaves Verstappen Exposed as Hamilton Takes Pole in Losail