Vettel escapes Monza track limits punishment

Sebastian Vettel has avoided punishment following an investigation into an alleged breach of track limits during qualifying for Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver was summoned to see the Monza stewards after an incident at the Parabolica corner during his opening qualifying run in Q3, but after reviewing video evidence and having heard from both Vettel and team representatives, no further action has been taken.

It means Vettel retains the laptime he set to secure fourth place on the grid for Sunday’s Italian GP, behind the Mercedes duo of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc.

An FIA statement read: “The Stewards reviewed multiple camera angles, some of which appeared to show that the tyres were not in contact with the white line of the track edge.

“However other angles appeared to show that part of the front “wheel” (when viewed from above) may have been within the bounds of the white line.

“This cast an element of doubt which is considered significant enough to give the “benefit of doubt” to the driver in question.”

The FIA has been taking a zero-tolerance approach to track limits at the final corner this weekend and invalidating two lap times for any driver who falls foul of the rule.