Vettel Disqualified From Hungarian GP After Insufficient Fuel Sample

Calum Gill 19:22 01/08/2021

Sebastian Vettel's has been disqualified from the Hungarian Grand Prix after his Aston Martin team were unable to provide an adequate fuel sample from his car to the FIA.

The 34-year-old German finished second behind first time winner Esteban Ocon in the race, but pulled off the circuit on his way back to parc fermé. This usually happens when teams are concerned that they need to save their fuel for the post-race check by the FIA technical delegate. The sample required to be handed over by the teams must be 1.0 litres.

The FIA technical delegate has revealed that only a 0.3 litre sample could be taken from Vettel’s car post race following the correct process. This was referred to the stewards due to failing to comply with the technical regulations, and Aston Martin representatives were subsequently formally summoned to the stewards. The rules state that the sample procedure must not necessitate starting the engine or the removal of bodywork other than the nosebox assembly and the cover over any refuelling connector.

Everything else on Vettel's car complied with the regulations:  "Apart from the 1.0 litre fuel sample for car number 05 (Vettel), all car weights and the items checked were found to be in conformity with the 2021 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations."

As a result, Lewis Hamilton picks up P2 and Carlos Sainz inherits P3 for his fourth ever podium. Alpine now have a 1-4 with Fernando Alonso being bumped up to fourth. Pierre Gasly now takes fifth, with his AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda in sixth. Nicholas Latifi and George Russell take personal best finishes for Williams with 7th and 8th. Max Verstappen gains another point, as Kimi Raikkonen inherits the final points position.