Even if he did, Vettel's repsonse was inappropriate. These are two separate incidents, in my mind. You do not hit another driver's car, and that was a clear side-swipe. He's lucky he didn't get Black Flagged. In other news: McLaren finished a race! A whole race! And got points! I think the red flag reallly helped them, in that it allowed the engine to take a breather.
Seb got off very lucky. I honestly thought he was better than that. Interesting race, Ricciardo is probably still laughing.
Interesting stats here. Hard to imagine Red Bull behind McLaren but it's from a reputable source (link to article below the chart). Full article: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-mileage-mclaren-f1-2017-924077/
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ6N872ErCY"]2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Best Onboards - YouTube[/ame]
At this point I don't see the FIA & Todt taking further action. But Seb better watch his P's & Q's. One more screw up & he'll be hurting. FWIW I think a disqualification would have been too harsh, but it sucks he finished in front of Hamilton he didn't deserve to.
Damage control from Seb. He is very lucky that the matter is dropped, although they will be watching him like a hawk. He is a huge talent, but he must reign in his temper. At times he appears to just go snap. I don't see this as being the red mist I see it as something other that. Red mist is go for it 120% tunnel vision, this was just a very sorry tantrum in an F1 car.
I don't want to sound like I am defending Seb because I am not. I have never liked it when drivers bump each other. To me it looked like a very stressful race. The roads were narrow with pretty much no runoff. I thank he was caught in the moment and just reacted without thinking. They were going slow and I don't think he intended any harm. Intentions aside it could have ended badly. I think the punishment fit the crime in this case. Yes he does need to watch his temper.
Heck we all have tempers & as humans we need to control ours. I'm sure Seb meant no harm, but he sure could have inflicted it. On Lewis & himself. His brains clutch was slipping badly. I'm sure he will not react that way in the future. I like both of the drivers involved & want to see good hard close racing. But I don't want to see a repeat of the Saturday night short track style of racing in F1. On to Austria!
I wouldn't be surprised if the FIA's decision was influenced by some of the decision-makers having bought off on Liberty's assertion that F1 has become too vanilla and needs more drama from conflict between the drivers. The "Let them fight!" attitude.
Oh yes ITB & the if you ain't rubbin you ain't racin attitude. Had someone laid a fender into me under a pace car caution I'd have driven them into the nearest tire wall. There is no reason for that kind of carp. Beware of armature racers sponsored by body-shops. In the rarefied air of F1 that stuff just shouldn't happen. Put the boxing gloves on after the race.
Cosworth, Aston Martin appear in F1 engine meeting (motorsport.com) Full article here: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-aston-martin-cosworth-engine-meeting-926708/