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ABU DHABI, UAE - Sebastian Vettel was right to celebrate his fourth Formula 1 title with tyre-smokin' donuts in India and stewards should be allowed to show leniency on such occasions.
So said Red Bull boss Christian Horner about Vettel, who became Formula 1's youngest quadruple champion at 26 after winning in India, was reprimanded for breaching the rules by spinning the car in front of fans on the main straight after his slowing-down lap.
Red Bull was fined the equivalent of about R250 000 for failing to tell its driver to return directly to the pits after his sixth F1 win in a row.
'RIGHT THING TO DO'
Horner told reporters on Thursday (Oct 31) ahead of the 2013 Abu Dhabi GP: "Sometimes things don't fully comply with a regulation; perhaps it's a tennis player climbing out of the court to embrace his parents in their box at Wimbledon or a footballer going to hug a family member in the crowd.
"From a team point of view it was exactly the right thing for him to do. It's good for the sport and it's a shame it was penalised. I understand the stewards have rules but sometimes you hope commonsense will prevail."
He pointed out that Vettel's "exuberant" action was against all the usual team advice to look after engine and gearbox and not shed weight from the tyres before post-race checks.
"The stewards could have been a lot harder with their penalty but picked the lowest they could - a reprimand and a fine for the team, despite it being the driver's actions."
Red Bull, he made clear with a smile, would not be sending their driver a bill...
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Abu Dhabi F1 GP weekend.
So said Red Bull boss Christian Horner about Vettel, who became Formula 1's youngest quadruple champion at 26 after winning in India, was reprimanded for breaching the rules by spinning the car in front of fans on the main straight after his slowing-down lap.
Red Bull was fined the equivalent of about R250 000 for failing to tell its driver to return directly to the pits after his sixth F1 win in a row.
'RIGHT THING TO DO'
Horner told reporters on Thursday (Oct 31) ahead of the 2013 Abu Dhabi GP: "Sometimes things don't fully comply with a regulation; perhaps it's a tennis player climbing out of the court to embrace his parents in their box at Wimbledon or a footballer going to hug a family member in the crowd.
"From a team point of view it was exactly the right thing for him to do. It's good for the sport and it's a shame it was penalised. I understand the stewards have rules but sometimes you hope commonsense will prevail."
He pointed out that Vettel's "exuberant" action was against all the usual team advice to look after engine and gearbox and not shed weight from the tyres before post-race checks.
"The stewards could have been a lot harder with their penalty but picked the lowest they could - a reprimand and a fine for the team, despite it being the driver's actions."
Red Bull, he made clear with a smile, would not be sending their driver a bill...
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Abu Dhabi F1 GP weekend.