Bernie blasts Ferrari's Vettel probe

Bernie Ecclestone.

Bernie Ecclestone.

Published Nov 30, 2012

Share

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone yesterday dismissed Ferrari’s bid to take the world title away from Sebastian Vettel in favour of their driver Fernando Alonso.

Ferrari have written to the FIA seeking clarification after the sport’s governing body ruled Vettel did not commit an offence during the title-deciding Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos on Sunday as he passed Jean-Eric Vergne’s Toro Rosso.

If it had been ruled he was guilty, a points deduction could have lost him his third world title.

A COMPLETE JOKE

But Ecclestone has little sympathy with the Italian team. “It’s a complete joke,” he said. “What Ferrari are saying in that letter is wrong. I don’t think there needs to be any action taken.”

The controversy arose because a track marshal is seen waving a green flag when Vettel’s Red Bull car is about to pass Vergne, even though Vettel’s dashboard continued to show two yellow lights and the word ‘flag’, which meant overtaking was forbidden.

It remains to be seen whether Ferrari accept this version of events and have until today to lodge an appeal.

There is no denying the lingering bitterness between Vettel and Alonso regarding the manner in which the 2012 drivers’ championship was fought and could turn into a new Alain Prost-Ayrton Senna scenario.

Alonso is understood to have been pushing his team to pursue a case against Vettel after seeing the footage. He took to Twitter to exclaim: “I don’t have miracle. I perform my miracles from within the rules.”

ALONSO FURIOUS

The Spaniard is also understood to have been furious at the stewards’ decision only to reprimand Vettel and let him keep his pole position in Japan despite being found guilty of blocking him in qualifying.

Vettel went on to record a crucial win while Alonso retired on the opening lap after a collision with Kimi Raikkonen.

Meanwhile, Vettel talked of ‘dirty tricks’ and ‘cheats’ in his victory speech at Interlagos which could be seen as referring to Ferrari’s decision to sabotage Felipe Massa’s gearbox at the previous race in Austin, thereby boosting his team-mate’s grid position. -Daily Mail

Follow us on Twitter: @IOLmotoring

Related Topics: