Vettel gets grid penalty for Malaysia

[John S]

Well we know one man who wont be on pole in Malaysia.

Sebastian Vettel has been given a 10-place grid penalty for the Malaysian Grand Prix next weekend following his clash with Robert Kubica in Melbourne.

Vettel crashed with BMW Sauber's Kubica with three laps to go when the Pole tried to overtake him around the outside.

Both men were forced to retire later on.

The German driver's Red Bull team was also fined $50,000 for instructing Vettel to stay on track despite running on three wheels.

By Pablo Elizalde, Autosport.com

[Dare]

Maybe I'm wrong but I think Kubica was just
as much to blame as Vettel.As far as the
fine I think Vettel may have watched Giles on Youtube

[FW14B]

I think Vettel was punished as he was too honest about his part in the crash after the incident.  Too many comments about having to fight for the place.  But I thought both were as bad as each other.

[cosworth151]

In any case, the ten grid position penalty is excessive. The overtaking move looked like it might have been a bit overly enthusiastic, but I thought the goal was more overtaking at the end of a race. I think a warning, with an added penalty for any further such occurrence, would have been plenty.

[Ian]

Yeah, I would have called it a racing incident and left it at that, although the fine for running on three wheels was justified.

[Number 38]

My view on the Vettel/Kubica crash ... for what it's worth ... it looked like Vettel's tyres were giving up, he was loosing ground to Button and being caught up by Kubica, his hands were full. He slipped and touched Kubica, actually apologized to his team over the radio. It was just a 'racing incident', there was no malice and no need for that penalty.   
Concerning Kubica's agressive driving or overly enthusatic attempt at a pass ........ isn't that what Bernie is pushing with his 'most wins' scheme. Bernie says: "drivers will take more risks" and now we see the consequences.

[Alianora La Canta]

In theory, the correct penalty for attempting to finish with a car not in compliance with the Technical Regulations is disqualification. I know Vettel basically disqualified himself, but still...

The accident was six of one and half-a-dozen of the other. I respect Vettel for apologising, even if he's now having to pay for it.

[Scott]

Once again, the FIA are penalizing passing (or an attempt at passing).  Is it not about time they just mandate a big rubber bumper around the cars (like go-karts) so at least the cars just bounce off each other and keep going?  Soon they will start to penalize driving that COULD have caused an incident.  In racing, cars occasionally bump into each other.  Some people watch racing just for that...

[SennaMan]

Once again, the FIA are penalizing passing (or an attempt at passing).  Is it not about time they just mandate a big rubber bumper around the cars (like go-karts) so at least the cars just bounce off each other and keep going?  Soon they will start to penalize driving that COULD have caused an incident.  In racing, cars occasionally bump into each other.  Some people watch racing just for that...

good point Sd - i watch motor racing to see a race not a b procession

IMO both guys are racers and they created a racing incident in going for a win or to finish higher

sure they need to do it cleaner - and in future will do so - but to penalise one of them sends the wrong message