Mistakes must be punished more severely, Vettel says: "That makes it too easy"

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel says he would like to see gravel traps return to Formula 1. According to him, drivers are not currently penalised harshly when they make a mistake.

In recent years, we have seen more and more gravel traps disappear in Formula 1. When Mugello was announced in the revised Formula 1 calendar of 2020, this was a pleasant surprise for many drivers. At Mugello, there are almost no asphalted runoffs to be found.

Vettel is very much in favour of the gravel traps and would like to see them return to Formula 1. "As drivers, we believe that mistakes should be punished. That would make everything easier. But we need to think carefully about which solution makes the most sense per corner," says the four-time world champion in a conversation with Speedweek.com.

Vettel says there is already a solution. "You have the track and then a strip of gravel next to it, so it doesn't give any advantage to get off the track. Then another layer of asphalt. There is no simple answer to this question. But only asphalt takes away the character of many tracks and makes it too easy", concludes Vettel.