SEBASTIAN VETTEL has been fined just over £4,000 for riding a MOPED on track at the Australian GP.
The incident happened when Vettel‘s Aston Martin conked out with an engine problem before catching fire.
The German was offered a ride back to the paddock by a marshal before Vettel took control of the bike himself.
He rode back to his team’s garage, with his helmet undone and perched on the top of his head as he waved to spectators in the stands.
The four-time world champion, who had missed the opening two races of the season due to covid, was all smiles.
But that was soon wiped off his face as new FIA Race Director Niels Wittich, called him up to his office to explain his actions.
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F1 rules state that no-one can go on the track within five minutes of the end of a session.
However, there are exceptions for “drivers when driving or on foot, having first received permission to do so from a marshal.”
There is a growing feeling that Wittich, who has been signed up as Michael Masi’s replacement following the Aussie’s blunder in Abu Dhabi, is flexing his muscles.
The German race boss is proving a bit of a stickler for the rulebook and had this week told drivers they were not allowed to wear jewellery under their race suits.
However, Vettel insisted that he was told he COULD return to the pits by the marshal.
He said: We had a problem, and there was a bit of smoke, and I lost power and we had to stop the car on the track.
“I did the best I could to limit the damage and get it off the track as soon as possible. I tried to make sure the car doesn’t get any further damaged.
“The marshal was very helpful, he had a Leatherman. I asked for an Allen key then we took part of the bodywork off so I could get underneath and cool the car. So it was a bit of a job.
“I asked, ‘can I get back?’, as soon as I knew the car was safe in terms of not catching fire again.
“But anyways, the session was then over, and I asked, ‘Is somebody coming?’ They said, ‘Yeah, yeah as soon as the session is over.’
“And then the guy came with a scooter and he said, ‘You can jump on the back.’
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“I said, ‘Can I drive it?’ Because I prefer to drive myself. And then he handed me the scooter, so I said, ‘OK,’ and he said, ‘Off you go.’ And I went.
“I mean I would like to get the car back and not to have a problem in the first place. I’m not here to drive a scooter!”
