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.
anon
Guest
"Red Bull used to regularly have 1 sec a lap over the competitors, they would often have to limit their lead to around 30 seconds because they were concerned they’d wear out their tyres of a safety car or something neutralised their lead." Yes, maybe at times in 2011. As for 2010 and 2012 that's completely untrue. 2012 had 7 different winners in the first 7 races. 2010 and 2012 the championships went to the wire. 2013 was also an even championship until the mid-season break. Alonso should have gone into the mid-season break with the lead but made mistakes early in the season. Up until the mid-season break we had 4 different constructors win races that season. It was a competitive season. Of course, after the mid-season break, teams other than Red Bull decided to cut their losses on 2013 and divert their resources to the biggest overhaul in regulations seen in the sport in 2014. It's just a myth that the Red Bull era was anywhere as dominant as Mercedes 2014-16. Even RBR's most dominant year doesn't come anywhere close to Mercedes worst year in this period. "But, to say that Webber had too much ego is about the silliest comment I’ve heard on this website." Didn't know his place. Webber went 17-2 in qualifying against Vettel in 2013. RBR were asleep at the wheel not making Vettel their number one driver sooner.
Carlos Del Valle PF1BR
Guest
As Michael Lamonato nicely said, Charlie isn't even the one directly responsible for the decisions during the race. Engineers and drivers say "we're talking with Charlie" as a metaphor, in lieu of "talking with the stewards". That makes Vettel's offence not only gross, but also unfair...
Rodney Gordon
Expert
Red Bull used to regularly have 1 sec a lap over the competitors, they would often have to limit their lead to around 30 seconds because they were concerned they'd wear out their tyres of a safety car or something neutralised their lead. But, to say that Webber had too much ego is about the silliest comment I've heard on this website.
anon
Guest
I always thought Webber was bitter and a whinger much like Barrichello when Schumacher was handing it to him race after race. Webber had his big chance in 2010, but threw it away into a wall in Korea. He had his chance again the final race of 2010, but it was his teammate in his third full season of F1 and long way behing Alonso and Webber in the points who got the job done in Abu Dhabi. Red Bull made a big mistake before the whole multi 21 saga by even giving Webber equal treatment. It wasn't like 2014-16 where Mercedes have 1-2 seconds over the field and are unbeatable. You can let your drivers race since one of them is assured of winning the championship. That wasn't the case at Red Bull after championships going to the wire in 2010 and 2012. Vettel rightfully passed Webber in Malaysia because he didn't know what the remainder of the season held, and he was the only realistic chance of winning the championship at Red Bull. Webber just could never know his place at Red Bull. Too much ego. If they weren't winning constructor championship after championship they would have pushed him out sooner. They kept Webber because if it ain't broke don't fix it.
anon
Guest
Vettel was out of line, but this was an immediate adjudication that should have been made by the stewards. Instead, the integrity of the race was compromised. To top it off, Vettel then gets penalised for "moving twice" under braking trying to protect his position in a battle he should never have been in. The rule was brought in to stop what Verstappen was doing, not what Vettel did in battle with Ricciardo. I have no problem with what Vettel did. I don't really have a problem with what Verstappen was doing either, although it was right on the borderline of what is/was legal. Vettel has become increasingly unlikable with his petulance and entitlement issues, but I have to defend him on this one. The outburst was a culmination of seeing Verstappen get away with an infraction (whether real or perceived) or push the boundaries of sportsmanship one too many times, plus of course being frustrated with his car and his own performance in 2016. I don't think Vettel should be blamed for broadcasters playing a team radio message. In the past they wouldn't broadcast a message if it included swearing, but now they do (with the swearing bleeped out of course). I don't understand either why Hamilton wasn't penalised for his first corner off either. If that was gravel (especially a raked gravel trap), he would have had to much more slowly navigate the run off and would have been subsequently passed by Rosberg and Verstappen. Instead, Hamilton just put the boot down and blasted over the flat, manicured turf run off. It's a joke. Hamilton wins a race despite a massive error heading towards turn one.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
That is an excellent point Rod, as an international sport, it is easy to misjudge the popularity of different drivers. I wonder how many English F1 fans are aware of how nauseating the Lewis mania is for neutral fans?
Michael Lamonato
Expert
It's worth pointing out here that Charlie Whiting doesn't implement the rules, that's the job of the stewards. If anything the aftermath of Jules Bianchi's accident showed tempered faith in Whiting rather than an excess of it. The investigation by the Accident Panel was commissioned specifically because there was so much noise about the way the race was conducted by Whiting and the FIA officials of the day. Importantly, no negative findings were concluded against him.
Rodney Gordon
Expert
And yet Vettel has escaped without penalty of any kind. Sad.
Rodney Gordon
Expert
Mate, we can't afford any kind of houses in this country.
Rodney Gordon
Expert
I got some perspective on this after Mark Webber retired when it became clear that not only did some people within Red Bull but also a huge percentage of F1 fans thought that Webber was a villain out to stop Vettel from becoming a deserving world champion. This despite the fact that everyone in my circle had a view that was 180 degrees in the other direction. I think when his run of wins ended he had to work harder, get some perspective and probably won some people back with his playful character. Sadly we've seen lately just how childish he really can be.
Rodney Gordon
Expert
We all agree that when a football game erupts into a punch on that it's exciting! Only question is, what penalties should there be?
Rodney Gordon
Expert
I think abusing an official is 100% unacceptable, verbally or physically. In this way they are the same, yes. Naturally one is verbal and one is physical, my follow on comment specifically outlined scenarios where the player/driver would be disciplined and yet hours, even days after the race there was not even any indication whether Vettel would be investigated.
Rodney Gordon
Expert
Swearing directly at the stewards over the radio certainly qualifies as abuse. What made it particularly egregious is that is wasn't as those his message was legitimate and happened to include swearing, i.e. "Tell Verstappen to get out of the f***ing way!" I also get the feeling that you think Whiting is the bad guy in this situation, which if true I simply cannot accept.
SM
Guest
Physically assaulting an umpire or referee is not the same as giving them a spray. You'd get banned for life for doing the former, but the writer somehow thinks that these two things are on par with each other. Not sure what your problem is as it's pretty clear what I wrote.
Ian
Guest
I didn't realise Australians were held in such a high regard in the rest of the world to be able to throw stones from their glass houses.
Matthew H
Guest
He's European, and more than that German. In my experience many of them have superiority complexes. That may be unfair. Example - Me to Swiss person 'Do you ski?', Swiss person replies 'Better than you'. This is the sort of thing you get all the time. Remember Pim Verbeek? He had a similar attitude.
Brad
Guest
Look at AFL, give the ump a spray or throw the ball back to hard and its a instant free kick and 50m penalty. Or go abuse a cop and see what happens.
DH
Guest
"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." I'm pretty sure this is just the most recent episode in Vettel's legacy of spoilt little prat. He has a superiority complex which he barely masks. I've always assumed he's loathed by all, is that not true?
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Ultimately - this is a sport, a highly strung version of a game, a louder more grown up and exciting version of Home and Away, You don't watch F1 for fairness, or for the right person to win. You want drama, excitement, people breaking rules, people losing their cool, people fighting back, people being punished and rewarded in unexpected ways. So far this season, we have seen Nico driven in to Lewis and lose a race, and then be penalised twice, in two races for pulling the same move that Lewis dropped on him to win the title last year in Austin. We have seen Max dart around under breaks, at high speed, a move that would have seen Nigel Mansell storm into his pits and try and belt him. Meanwhile, punishments are arbitrary and often bewildering. Did Sebastian act like a prat? Yes. Should he have said it? No, of course not. Should he be punished, either through a degrading act of contrition or an actual on track penalty? I would say yes, but would lose no sleep over no. But were his actions and responses, exciting, conversation-starting and good publicity? Undoubtedly yes! I think it was actually good for the sport, I am spewing we only have two races left in this fascinating, thrilling and dramatic season. Cannot wait until 3AM in 12 days time!
SM
Guest
I certainly don't agree with the way Vettel expressed himself, but to somehow equate it with striking an official in another sport is absurd. It's nowhere near as bad Charlie Whiting and his regular inconsistent implementation of the rules. Under the current regime the man seems to be untouchable, as the Bianchi episode sadly proved.