Sebastian Vettel has been issued with a fine after the opening day of the Australian Grand Prix weekend, due to an unusual incident in Free Practice 1. The Aston Martin driver was forced to pull over at the side of the track when smoke began billowing from his car, with 15 minutes remaining in the session. In order to return to the pits at the end of the hour, Vettel used a marshal's scooter to make his way back, and opted to do this on the track, rather than using the designated route. Vettel was investigated for the course of events later in the day, and the stewards have now delivered their verdict.
Vettel fined €5,000 for using scooter on track
Vettel was found to be in breach of Article 26.7 of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which prohibits anyone from being on the track in the five-minute period after the end of a session other than specifically identified personnel, and as such he has been fined €5,000 for the incident. A document released by the FIA confirming the punishment reads: "At the end of the session, VET sought a way to return to his pit. A marshal was at the location with a scooter. "VET asked if he could drive the scooter in order to return to his pit. The marshal assented. VET got on the scooter, expecting the marshal to get on behind him. "When he didn’t get on, VET departed alone for the pit, without the prior approval to do so." Vettel is not the only driver to have been investigated after Friday's running in Melbourne. Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll both escaped penalties for alleged impeding, while Yuki Tsunoda was handed his second reprimand of the season for moving slowly on the racing line as faster cars approached.
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