F1: Vettel Yellow Flag Controversy Rumbles On

Formula 1

F1: Vettel Yellow Flag Controversy Rumbles On

Questions and controversy surround Sebastian Vettel’s pass of Jean-Eric Vergne during the Brazilian GP...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted November 28, 2012 Sao Paulo (BRA)

Full-screen on-board footage of Sebastian Vettel passing Jean-Eric Vergne in the Brazilian GP seems to reveal a green flag in the upper left. (Image: FOM via YouTube)

The internet has been alive over the past couple of days with chat about whether Sebastian Vettel made a pass under yellow flags during the Brazilian GP.

The point is, had such an occurrence been picked up during the race, it would have earned a drive-through penalty. That may have compromise Vettel’s race, but he would have regained lost time at the first safety car and quite possibly recovered to the position he finally earned anyway. RBR could have gotten Mark Webber to drop back if necessary to gift him a place.

Sebastian Vettel is the center of controversy over what some see as a questionable yellow-flag pass at the Brazilian PG. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Had it been investigated after the race, he would have earned a 20-second time penalty. With the field having closed up under the safety car, that would have dropped him from sixth to eighth, and given the World Championship to Fernando Alonso.

On Sunday, the most talked-about incident involved Vettel passing Kamui Kobayashi, but this writer spoke to two of the stewards – including LM24 winner Tom Kristensen – who confirmed that they had checked it and the pass was fine.

However, at the start of this week attention turned to a lap 4 pass on Jean-Eric Vergne. Full-speed onboard footage shows Vettel passing Vergne with yellow lights on his dash and before a green light indicating the end of the yellow-flag zone.

It looks clear cut. But head-on screen grabs and super slow-mo of the onboard appear to reveal a green flag on Vettel’s left. Usually this human intervention takes priority over the electronic devices in the car and at trackside, and Vettel clearly does not begin the pass until he has gone by the flag.

Chat among fans is one thing but the story took a step Wednesday night when the BBC said that Ferrari had confirmed that it was looking into the footage, and in effect considering an appeal. The rules state that they can do this until this Friday.

It remains to be seen whether that was a stray comment from a PR man or whether the team really will pursue the matter, but given the apparent sighting of a green flag the team should be 100 percent of its case before doing anything. Whatever the outcome, taking the matter further could be a PR disaster for the sport...

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.