F1: Ferrari Pursues Vettel Issue But Has No Case

Formula 1

F1: Ferrari Pursues Vettel Issue But Has No Case

An official Ferrari Tweet confirms that the team will formally pursue the issue of Sebastian Vettel’s controversial pass with the FIA...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted November 29, 2012 Balen (BEL)

Stefano Domenicali is team boss at Ferrari. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Ferrari has confirmed that it has tried to formally pursue the issue of Sebastian Vettel’s pass of Jean-Eric Vergne with the FIA in an attempt to change the result of the World Championship.

Having said Wednesday that it was reviewing video footage, an official Ferrari Tweet confirmed Thursday: “Ferrari asked, by means of a letter, for a clarification from FIA regarding VET's overtaking move on VER during lap 4 of the Brazilian GP.”

However, FIA sources have confirmed exactly what an article on SPEED.com said Wednesday.

Footage also shows that Vettel passed a green flag on the left before he started the passing move and before he used KERS.

As the SPEED.com article stated, traditional flags have priority over dashboard lights and trackside light boards – the first flag or board denotes a yellow or green zone – so Vettel was legally allowed to pass after that flag.

By pursuing in public rather than accepting the inevitable, Ferrari has not only damaged the sport and tarnished Vettel’s championship but made the team look like a sore loser, having seemingly accepted defeat on Sunday in a dignified manner.

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.