FIA looking to revise penalties after Vettel's incident last weekend

Charlie Whiting has confirmed he and the stewards are discussing whether to change the way penalties are dished out after Vettel's five-second penalty last weekend.

On the opening lap of the French Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel drove into the back of Valtteri Bottas' Mercedes. Whilst both drivers managed to continue the race, Bottas had a puncture and Vettel needed a nose job.

The stewards handed the German with a five-second penalty, but he finished better off than his Mercedes rival. As a result of the puncture, Bottas caused damage to the floor of the car meaning he lost some downforce.

Charlie Whiting confirmed he and his team are looking at altering the procedure.

“The stewards don’t normally look at the consequences of the accident,” he told Autosport. “Although in fairness it probably plays a little subconscious part.

“Let’s just say Vettel had continued without any problem, I think the stewards may have thought ‘that’s not fair, he’s ruined Valtteri’s race, it’s clearly his fault’, and they may have thought slightly differently. So it’s something that we’re currently discussing with the stewards.”

Vettel finished the French Grand Prix in 5th picking up 10 points. Bottas finished the race in 7th.

Should the FIA look to change the way they dish out penalties? You voted in our poll that Vettel should have got more than a five-second penalty, but let us know in the comments how you feel it should be done.