Aug.10 - Dr Helmut Marko thinks Formula 1 needs to re-think its penalty system, after Sebastian Vettel was disqualified from the recent Hungarian GP.

Aston Martin attempted to appeal the exclusion, arguing that the mandatory litre of fuel was indeed on-board even though scrutineers could not extract it.

But the FIA on Monday said Aston Martin in fact has no "right of review", because the team was unable to come up with any "significant and relevant new evidence".

"Vettel was disqualified because there was not enough gas in the tank," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told Speed Week.

"We need to talk about the appropriateness of penalties," he insisted.

Marko is referring to Vettel's full disqualification for a fuel breach, in stark contrast with Lewis Hamilton's mere 10-second penalty for tipping title rival Max Verstappen into a 51G crash at Silverstone.

"It is clear why Vettel almost ran out of fuel," Marko said.

"They calculated for a normal race and he simply consumed more in the fight with Ocon. In that situation, no driver saves fuel," he insisted.

"But where is the appropriateness compared to Hamilton's offense?" Marko added.

The 78-year-old Austrian even accuses Mercedes' Hamilton of hypocrisy, given his complaints on the radio whilst racing wheel-to-wheel with Fernando Alonso in Hungary.

"Alonso drove sensationally, defended perfectly - and then this statement from someone who put a competitor off just one race earlier?" said Marko.


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13 F1 Fan comments on “Marko thinks F1 must discuss stark contrasted penalty system

  1. ReallyOldRacer

    The doc just won't let go of the Copse crash. Best he concentrate on the two WC's. His track record ain't that great. Re the VET fuel penalty: I'm sick of hearing, in every major series, about it being the driver's duty to conserve fuel and tires. This is racing, not a 60's Shell tv ad.

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  2. Dave

    ROR its not just the doctor who won't let it go. Starts with Horner and goes from there. Get them some soothers already, their public display of petulant whining is getting to be a little much. No... it's far too much. Watching RB's behaviour, its like they've forgotten what its like to be in tight contention for the WDC in F1. I do wish the FIA would tell RB to shut up or at least, its over. I do respect Max for the most part staying out of this childish nonsense and being the adult amongst these other Red Baby Bulls. He's taken a swipe here or there, but it hasn't become a life obsession for him the way it has for Horner and Marko.

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    • Nobodysperfect

      Me 2. It's very strange to disqualify a driver for not having enough fuel, why don't they do the sampling before the race starts?
      Compared to getting a 10s penalty for sending some one into the barrier, who is leading the race and the f*cking championship. It's like giving a warning to someone who joyrided and wrecked your car and 2 weeks prison to someone who's driving around with a broken taillight.

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      • shroppyfly

        Two weeks in a uk prison would cost the taxpayer no less than £1800, hence why people don't get sent to prison for minor things, just the uk judicial system, rules are rules , we might not like them but unfortunately that's what it is.

        Regarding the ... nope cant be arsed to comment on it, we need some juicier stories than this

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  3. Matthew Yacoub

    I do agree with Marko to a degree yes I am Vettel fan but I do get why Seb was disqualified Marko does make a good point the penalty system is not perfect a driver gets disqualified for not having enough fuel for sample yet another driver wipes a few drivers and only get 5 place for next race which put the drivers at fault and Norris Perez Leclerc all out Verstappen damage yet as a result those drivers may need to take engine penalties that loses in Verstappen or Norris case 15 or more dosen't add up Marko isn't normally someone that I always agree with but he is right in parts

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  4. shroppyfly

    if we didnt have a favourite , then yes im sure wed all say , yes its an unfair penalty , unfortunately its not like that, the fia makes the rules, and if you involved the trams things would never move on for better or worse , an imperfect system , but its a system .

    Who would trust more Marko , or Toto , see an impossible decision...............

  5. Johm Mitchell

    Marko may be right complaining about Sebastian's penalty and I agree. However this just more BS from Marko who is still whining about their loss to Mercedes at Silverstone. Suck it up. Racing incident, end of story.


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