Vettel hits out at 'unprofessional' F1 move

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has hit out at the FIA over a penalty he was assessed at Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, saying the governing body was "not very professional."

Vettel was penalised 10 seconds because his team had failed to fit the wheels before the five-minute signal prior to the race.

At the time his Aston Martin team was fixing a problem with Vettel's brakes, which had overheated while the German was making his way to the grid.

Formula One has strict rules relating to mechanics working on cars on the grid prior to the race, which was prompted by a 1981 incident at the Belgium Grand Prix. On that occasion, a mechanic was hit by another car as he attempted to restart a stalled car at the same time as the race started.

Sebastian Vettel in action for Aston Martin at Imola.

At Imola, Vettel was forced to start from the pitlane, but his major gripe was the length of time it took for the penalty to be applied.

It was lap 22 by the time the penalty was announced, which left the 33-year-old less than impressed.

"Obviously the guys tried everything on the grid and I think they did really well, they were really alert," he said.

"I think we could have had a better race if the FIA was more alert because I think we broke a rule, I guess, that is why we got a penalty, but they didn't bother until way into the race, so by that time the penalty cost us a lot more than it would have done earlier in the race.

"That is not very professional."

Speaking immediately after the race to German TV, Vettel said the delay was unacceptable.

"I don't know why they were so late, it was pretty clear from the start," he told Sky Germany.

Sebastian Vettel leaves the pits during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.

"I don't know what the stewards were doing – maybe the filter of the coffee-maker was full and they needed to take care of it!"

FIA race director, Australian Michael Masi, defended the length of time taken to make the call, suggesting nothing untoward had taken place.

"I don't know about taking longer than it should have," Masi said.

"It was obviously reported by the technical delegate, I'd have to have a look at the reports but once it was reported by the technical delegate, being the paper report that appears in the document management system, at that point the stewards had a look at the regulations, confirmed the evidence and determined what the penalty was."

Vettel retired from the race two laps from the finish with gearbox issues.

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