Motorsport

ASTON MARTIN’S initial appeal over Sebastian Vettel’s Hungarian Grand Prix disqualification has been REJECTED.The German legend, 34, crossed the Hungaroring finish line in a superb second place behind shock winner Esteban Ocon and ahead of old rival Lewis Hamilton.
Sebastian Vettel has had his initial Hungarian GP disqualification ‘appeal’ rejected having finished second but later been unable to provide the required one-litre fuel sampleCredit: Reuters
It was only Aston Martin’s second-ever podium finish in Formula One.
But just four hours later, Vettel was disqualified after stewards claimed they were unable to take the one-litre fuel sample from his car.
Aston Martin released a statement claiming the car had 1.74l of fuel still in the tank and would request a ‘right of review’ following the FIA’s ruling.
However, the request has been denied after stewards revealed they were only able to extract 0.3l of fuel from Vettel’s car.
The team can now launch an official appeal should they feel they have a strong enough case.
An FIA statement read: “On Monday afternoon the stewards heard from team boss Otmar Szafnauer, chief technical officer Andrew Green and sporting director Andy Stevenson to hear the team’s case. 
“Under F1’s rules, in order to secure a right to review, the team must show ‘significant and relevant new’ evidence to the stewards.
“After the hearing the FIA revealed that Aston Martin had discovered that a faulty fuel pump meant a ‘significant amount of fuel was inadvertently discharged from the fuel cell of Car 5’, meaning FIA personnel could only extract 0.3 litres.
“This was accepted as ‘new evidence’ but in their decision document, the stewards said it was irrelevant why there was less than 1.0 litres of fuel in the car.
“They wrote that in order to secure a right of review: ‘Aston Martin would have had to present facts that actually more than 1 litre of fuel was remaining. 
“‘The explanation why this requirement could not be met is not relevant to the decision as to whether a breach of the regulations has occurred.’
“Therefore the officials dismissed the request for a right of review, which means Vettel’s disqualification from the race stands.
“Though that could still change if Aston Martin continue with their appeal, which is a separate process.”
T-SHIRT REPRIMAND
During an incident-packed weekend in Hungary, Vettel had already been issued a reprimand for failing to remove his rainbow T-shirt ahead of the race.
The Aston Martin driver wore the shirt with the words ‘same love’ across the front having previously worn shoes sporting a rainbow flag in a message against Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law.
‘We Race As One’ is a platform launched by F1 last year that counts diversity, inclusivity and sustainability as its core principles.
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Drivers are free to wear apparel with a message that is supportive of the initiative’s principles.
But they were instructed to remove any such T-shirts before the national anthem and wear their race suits in a pre-race note issued by race director Michael Masi.
Vettel failed to remove his T-shirt for the national anthem – but claims he forgot to take it off after it began raining.
Sebastian Vettel had earlier been reprimanded by the FIA for wearing a rainbow T-shirt reading ‘same love’ during the national anthemCredit: The Mega Agency
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FORMER F1 driver Damon Hill is worried about the effect long covid is having on Lewis Hamilton.Hamilton, 36, was visibly spent after last week’s Hungary Grand Prix, where the Brit finished second after Sebastian Vettel was disqualified.
Lewis Hamilton will take a break from training to recover from the gruelling Hungary Grand Prix
Damon Hill expressed his concern for Hamilton
But the Mercedes star struggled to even step onto the podium after the race, with fatigue setting in.
Hill noticed Hamilton’s tired-looking state and expressed concern for the driver.
He told the F1 Nation podcast: “He was definitely out of energy.
“He had burned it all up and I just hope and wish him well that he has got the ability to recover as soon as he can.
“This long Covid we have heard about… I have heard people talk about this and they have had Covid and a year later they still feel they are not 100 per cent. It is a nasty virus and let’s hope Lewis can get a full recovery from it.
“He was tired after British Grand Prix, do you remember he was on the podium looking a bit puffed?
“We thought that was because he had to battle through and it was a tough track but clearly, he has admitted he has not managed to get back his full fitness after getting Covid last year in Bahrain.”
Hamilton’s drive in Hungary left him dizzy, extremely tired and with shortness of breath – tell-tale signs of long Covid.
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As a result, he will now take a break from training and rest up ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix on August 29.
Hamilton’s second-place finish last time out allowed him to jump ahead of Max Verstappen in the overall standings.
He now leads the Dutch driver by eight points, with a total of 195 points and four wins.
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