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Mexico is one country where holding a Formula One event is still a novelty.
Only one driver from the country has ever won an Formula One race, and he along with his brother were memorialised by having the track named after them.
Although Sergio Perez has visited the podium a number of times in F1, Pedro Rodriguez remains the country’s most successful driver with two Grand Prix victories leaving behind him a rich legacy of motorsport achievement.
I can’t help but wonder what effect the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend might have on Sebastian Vettel’s legacy, considering he is one of our modern day heroes.
Having made his feelings clear about Max Verstappen’s refusal to yield his rightfully earned position in the dying laps of the race, the often colourful and charismatic Vettel was replaced by a vitriolic, petulant svengali intent on souring the team radio.
He felt he had been wronged, just as we all do from time to time, and having mainlined adrenaline for previous 90 mins you have to give him some leeway. That Verstappen had to give up the final podium position to Vettel seemed like more of a formality than anything else. The stewards rushed through their penalty so that Vettel could stand on the podium and taste the champagne that he felt he so richly deserved.
Shortly afterwards the stewards investigated Vettel for moving in the breaking zone and he was handed a ten-second penalty and Ricciardo was awarded his position and presented with his trophy.
In only its second year since returning to Mexico, Formula One had made a mockery of the result by having one driver cross the line in P3, another presented with the P3 trophy and yet another leaving with the points.
You can’t blame the locals for feeling slightly cheated.
You also don’t have to remind Australian Formula One fans what it’s like to think they know the result only for it to change hours later when most have left the track. For most of us, the memories of Albert Park in 2014 where Daniel Ricciardo was eventually disqualified are vivid.
One has to wonder, if they could decide the penalty against Verstappen so swiftly, why couldn’t they have announced an investigation into Vettel’s defending? It would have set an expectation that the result may not stand, even if he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Trying to make sense of the aftermath, you can’t blame fans for wondering whether Vettel’s penalty for payback for the considerable spray that Vettel gave Chief Steward Charlie Whiting.
Vettel was furious that Verstappen wouldn’t let him through after cutting a corner and maintaining position, mostly because Vettel was defending from a charging Daniel Ricciardo on fresher and faster tyres.
Sebastian didn’t hold back on the team radio.
Vettel: “I mean, am I the only one or are you not seeing what I’m seeing? He’s just backing me off into Ricciardo [bleep].”
Engineer: “Charlie said that…”
Vettel: “Yeah! You know what? Here is the message for Charlie: [bleep] off! Honestly, [bleep] off.”
Unfortunately for Vettel, following the United States Grand Prix the previously unwritten rule that drivers’ shouldn’t change line under braking had been formally set in stone.
This was largely in response to complaints about Verstappen’s questionable defensive manoeuvres from several drivers, including Vettel himself.
That the steward listen so intently to the senior drivers is a sign of their respect. Their investigation into the incident lasted the best part of an hour and included talking to both Vettel and Ricciardo, and at least one of Ferrari’s technical engineers were consulted along with his telemetry.
It was proven conclusively that Vettel had made a clear defensive move while under braking, and thus deserving of his reprimand, these are the lengths the official go to when the stakes are as high as they were on Sunday.
When races are affected by heavy rain, the stewards rely on the more experienced drivers to provide feedback about their handling and the conditions so that they can make an informed decision on when they can safely resume racing.
In recent years though, this level of respect has not been reciprocated by all drivers, and Vettel has been the worst offender. He complains so frequently about drivers not respecting blue flags that he’s provided the internet with enough material for a dubstep remix.
He might try to excuse away his salty language on the radio as being purely “in the heat of the moment”, but the truth is that they are an insight into his true feelings. However imperfect the blue flag system might be for keeping lapped cars out of the way for the leading cars, it simply can’t be the case that they are victimising Vettel at every single race. Nor would the stewards let such a grievous breach of the regulations go unaddressed.
When it’s not blue flags, Vettel has laundry lists of complaints during every race that he distributes freely to his team, the entire pitlane and frequently the TV audience. Some commentators have argued he brings incredible character to the spectacle, and that hearing drivers spout insults at each other is livens up the show.
I couldn’t agree more, however with Vettel there’s a personal bitterness to his remarks that suggest something less excusable. I really don’t mind if drivers want to hurl abuse at each other. It’s not my preferred conduct during a sporting match, but I’ll accept it.
Giving the officials a spray over the radio however is akin to assaulting them physically. In any other sport any participant would have been ejected from the match, penalised and fined before they even hit the showers.
Why this situation, and a decision about whether Vettel will be reprimanded in some fashion, is taking so long to determine can only suggest that the FIA are treating the matter very seriously.
I fear that Vettel may be made an example of. And just as his move under braking set the acceptable limits of the regulations, his conduct may come under the same scrutiny. Perhaps the message will finally get through to Sebastian that simply putting your head down and racing is the most effective means of achieving positive results on a racetrack.
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