Canada 2019; “They are stealing the race from us”

Canada 2019 was one of many controversial victories in the history of Formula One, in this case Lewis Hamilton took a controversial win after Sebastian Vettel was handed a late five-second penalty.

 

Leading up to the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton with Mercedes dominated by taking victory in the opening 6 races. Going into Saturdays qualifying, it was Vettel in the Ferrari, who took pole position, his first of the season. Vettel beating Hamilton to the line by two-tenths of a second.

 

Unfortunately for Vettel, though taking his 56th career pole, the race was not as rewarding for the German driver, the decision coming from the stewards stripping Vettel of his victory. The stewards’ decisions coming after a tussle on lap 48 between Vettel and Hamilton. Vettel currently leading, ran wide at turn 3 and cutting the apex at turn 4 . Vettel re-joined the track and lost the rear of his Ferrari before cutting across Hamilton on the exit of the corner, forcing Hamilton into the wall. The pair avoided contract, but the stewards immediately picked up the incident. 10 laps later the stewards came back with their verdict and issued a five-second penalty to Sebastian Vettel for re-joining the track in an unsafe manner and forcing Hamilton off the track.

 

Vettel without a safe five-second advantage over Hamilton and under 10 laps to go in the race, reported on the radio “I has nowhere to go, seriously I has nowhere to go”. Vettel added “I did see him”.

 

Vettel later over the radio accused the Stewards of “stealing the race from us”

 

Vettel obviously frustrated from the steward’s decision, in retaliation moved the number two board from in front of his to car to Infront of Hamilton’s car and replacing his with the number one. Hamilton admitting after the race that if it wasn’t for Vettel’s five-second penalty he wouldn’t have beat Vettel for the win. On the podium in a show of great sportsmanship, Hamilton invited Vettel to join him on the top step, which, Vettel reluctantly accepted.