A lot happened at the start of Saturday afternoon's Sprint race in Austria. Firstly, Fernando Alonso failed to make the start and was still on the jacks with the tyre blankets on, his Alpine team forced to push the car back into the pit lane. Alonso was unable to take the start, and retired before the race had started. Then Zhou Guanyu came to a stop at the end of the (first) warm-up lap, causing the entire grid to complete a second lap. As a result, Zhou started from the pit lane. After the Sprint race finished, several drivers have been summoned to see the stewards, because they allegedly violated Article 33.1 of the sporting rulebook during the 'second' warm-up lap with radio messages. Article 33.1 reads: "A driver must be able to drive the car alone and without assistance."
Vettel also called up to the stewards for a strange reason
Vettel has also received another summons, with the Aston Martin driver to face charges relating to his behaviour in the drivers' briefing that took place after qualifying on Friday afternoon. Vettel, who started the Sprint race from the back of the grid, has been accused of an alleged breach of Article 12.2.1 of the International Sporting Code and Article 20.1 of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations for his "Behaviour at the drivers' meeting at 19:30". Article 20.1 of the Sporting Regulations states: At each Event where a sprint session is scheduled, meetings, chaired by the Race Director, will take place three (3) two (2) hours before the start of P1, one (1) hour after the end of P1 and one and a half (1.5) hours after the end of the qualifying practice session. The first must be attended by all team managers and the second and third by all drivers and team managers. Article 12.2.1 states: Any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally in the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA. It is not clear at this stage what Vettel has actually been accused of doing.
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