Sebastian Vettel penalised after scooter excursion during Australian Grand Prix practice
Sebastian Vettel has been fined 5,000 euros by the FIA after taking a scooter on-track after Free Practice 1 at Albert Park.
Sebastian Vettel rides a scooter on the Albert Park circuit after FP1 on Thursday. (Fox Sports Australia)
The FIA stewards summoned Vettel after he used a marshal's scooter to return to the pit lane after the end of FP1.
The Aston Martin driver was stranded on the other side of the circuit after an engine failure took him out of the session.
Vettel argued that he was given permission by the marshal to take the scooter, however the stewards found that by taking the scooter on track he had breached Article 26.7 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations.
Article 26.7 "…prohibits anyone from being on the track in the five-minute period after the end of a session, with the exception of specifically identified personnel, which makes no provision for drivers to have such access unless specifically authorized," read the stewards' decision.
Vettel was slapped with a €5,000 fine, equivalent to $7,292 AUD.
