Vettel Reveals Late FIA Call Compromised Aston Martin’s Imola Race

On lap 34 of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the FIA red-flagged the race after a heavy collision between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell. After clearing up the debris, the race was finally resumed. However, the manner in which it restarted not only bemused Sebastian Vettel but also affected his race adversely.

“I don’t know why it was a rolling start,” the German said after the race.

“With the red flag, we tried to start on a softer tyre, but there was a rolling start which we didn’t expect. And then we had a higher degradation on the soft than others on the medium.”

Aston Martin Team Principal, Otmar Szafnauer, echoed the views of his driver. Not only did the rolling start take him by surprise, but it was too late to change Sebastian’s tires – “We anticipated a standing start again, but then we were told it was a rolling start quite late.”

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Why did the FIA not inform Vettel & Co. of the rolling start before?

Vettel wasn’t the only one; Charles Leclerc was also in the same boat. He, too, was unaware of the rolling start. This begs the question as to why did the race control not inform the drivers beforehand. According to the race director, Michael Masi, they were following the standard protocol –

“Generally, we can post either a standing start or a rolling start once the cars have actually left pit lane. And so on this occasion, we did it at I think it was about turn seven – there or thereabouts.”

Why the rolling start and not the standing start?

Last season when the races in Monza and Mugello were red-flagged, they restarted with a standing start. But it wasn’t feasible this time in Imola as the track conditions were too unsafe –

“Having looked at the situation, and particularly with the left-hand side in particular of the track on the approach to turn two, the far left-hand side being quite damp, determined that we would go for a rolling start,” said Michael Masi.

In our opinion, the FIA needs to alter the rulebook slightly. They need to inform the teams of their decision before they leave the pits. Otherwise, it can have an unfair impact on their race.

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