• Singapore Grand Prix

No action taken against Vettel over safety car incident

ESPN Staff
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Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel were summoned to the stewards after the race © Getty Images
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The stewards of the Singapore Grand Prix have decided not to take any action against race winner Sebastian Vettel after an investigation into his driving behind the safety car.

As the safety car returned to the pits on lap 38 Jenson Button, in second place at the time, came perilously close to Vettel as the Red Bull accelerated hard and then warmed up its brakes. The McLaren just avoided the Red Bull and after the race Button said he had not expected Vettel to jump on the brakes when he did.

"When someone speeds up in the middle of the straight you don't expect them to hit the brakes hard again because we're all gearing up and getting ready behind the car to react to when he goes. It causes a concertina effect and it did with me and I nearly went into the back of him and locked up the fronts. I was lucky to get around the side of him otherwise that might have been quite a disappointing end to the race. ."

However, the stewards issued a statement after the race saying they would not be taking any action and that Vettel, as the race leader, was entitled to dictate the pace under the regulations.

"An examination of the telemetry overlay for the throttle, steering and brake traces of both cars did not indicate any erratic driving behaviour on the part of the race leader. It is noted that Article 40.13 provides that the first car may dictate the pace."

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