Sebastian Vettel is under investigation by the Australian Grand Prix stewards for riding a scooter back to the pits at the end of Friday's first practice at Albert Park.
After missing out on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix due to Covid-19, Sebastian Vettel's return to Albert Park, Melbourne, has been an eventful one already. The Aston Martin driver has been cleared to participate in this weekend's Australian Grand Prix and was back behind the wheel for their FP1 on Friday.
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However, the German's session came to a premature end with 15 minutes left on the clock as his AMR22 went up in smoke, forcing Vettel to stop on track due to an engine issue.
Instead of jumping into a medical car or walking back to the garage, Vettel decided to go on an impromptu lap of the circuit on a scooter at the end of the session, waving to the crowd as he rode by.
This is the most iconic end to a practice session we can remember 😅 pic.twitter.com/4jPlAZotzd
— Formula 1 (@F1)The German's improvised ride out on the track has not gone well with the FIA - also given the driver did not wear his helmet properly - and is now under investigation for 'entering the track without permission' on the said scooter.
The FIA have summoned Vettel to the stewards for using a scooter on track. pic.twitter.com/42OjVU2tWA
— FormulaRacers (@formularacers_)Article 26.7 of the F1 sporting regulations state that in the five-minute window after every practice session, no one is allowed on-track, at pit entry or pit exit except:
– Marshals or other authorised personnel in the execution of their duty.
– Drivers, when driving or on foot, having first received permission to do so from a marshal.
– Team personnel, when either pushing a car or clearing equipment from the grid after all cars able to do so have left the grid on the formation lap.
– Team personnel when assisting marshals in removing a car from the grid after the start of the sprint session or the race.
Fans and F1 experts took to Twitter to react to Vettel's antics. Here's a look at some of the reactions:
Best lap of the day goes to Mushroom Sebastian Vettel pic.twitter.com/fcXq6DWRnN
— Lucy Bennett (@BennettGaming2)Get you a man like Sebastian Vettel pic.twitter.com/dafriXuld1
— Anna || 🇦🇺AUSSIE GP🇦🇺 (@33maxoscar02)Tomorrow vettel On Pole Position 🥰 pic.twitter.com/QQnw5713AO
— formula1_arabic (@formula1aarabic)sebastian vettel giving zero fucks and going around the circuit driving a MOTORCYCLE 😭
— andy (@iiiuminateandy)hERE COMES SEBASTIAN VETTEL pic.twitter.com/EDTa8IJeP7
— cheska (@njhcares)HIS LITTLE WINK?!?!?!!!?? OH SEBASTIAN VETTEL IS SUCH A CHARLES LEWINK STAN pic.twitter.com/uRtY0JMp61
— tia (@vettelton16)Sebastian Vettel is the real king! ♥️ pic.twitter.com/foqpXTcZ63
— Lena (@FormulaLena)I fucking love Sebastian vettel oh my god pic.twitter.com/CaB1cYL4TN
— BJ (@LemmeSloop)but here comes sebastian vettel pic.twitter.com/bSXE9NkeTv
— mel (@vettelinho)The most reliable vehicle Vettel will have on a racetrack all year pic.twitter.com/CT103hnyTK
— Paul Beckwith (@paulbeckwith96)sebastian vettel. that’s it. that’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/UhlMeq6Pg9
— 🏎sosò (@sofiwithoutph)Everyone is a Sebastian Vettel fan, even if they say they're not, they're a Sebastian Vettel fan 💚 pic.twitter.com/FhDtXchYSw
— Nikki 🧡 (@life_of_niksi)I don’t trust people who don’t like Sebastian Vettel. pic.twitter.com/2ZWuApiDWZ
— Alex⁶³ - SAW LOUIS !! 💙 (@Russell_63x)Vettel trying out Aston Martin's new updates this weekend, an interesting development 👀😅 pic.twitter.com/ntxIWykcEH
— Autosport (@autosport)