The FIA has announced that no further action is to be taken following last month's incident during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The official statement reads:

Following an incident at the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix involving a collision between Car 5 (Sebastian Vettel) and Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), Sebastian Vettel was today invited to attend a meeting at the FIA's Paris headquarters. He was accompanied by his Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene. He reviewed the incident together with a panel comprised of FIA Deputy President for Sport Graham Stoker, FIA General Secretary for Sport Peter Bayer, FIA Formula One World Championship Race Director Charlie Whiting and FIA Formula One World Championship Deputy Race Director and FIA Safety Director Laurent Mekies.

During the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, stewards officiating at the event issued a 10-second stop-and-go penalty to Sebastian Vettel, the most severe penalty immediately applicable before displaying a black flag notice to the driver. Sebastian Vettel also had three penalty points applied to his FIA Superlicence, taking his current total to nine.

However, while respecting the Stewards' decision, the FIA remained deeply concerned by the wider implications of the incident, firstly through the impact such behaviour may have on fans and young competitors worldwide and secondly due to the damage such behaviour may cause to the FIA's image and reputation of the sport.

Following detailed discussion and further examination of video and data evidence related to the incident, Sebastian Vettel admitted full responsibility.

Sebastian Vettel extended his sincere apologies to the FIA and the wider motor sport family. He additionally committed to devote personal time over the next 12 months to educational activities across a variety of FIA championships and events, including in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, at an FIA Formula 4 Championship to be defined and at the FIA Stewards' seminar. Due to this incident, President Jean Todt instructed that no road safety activities should be endorsed by Sebastian Vettel until the end of this year.

The FIA notes this commitment, the personal apology made by Sebastian Vettel and his pledge to make that apology public. The FIA also notes that Scuderia Ferrari is aligned with the values and objectives of the FIA.

In light of these developments, FIA President Jean Todt decided that on this occasion the matter should be closed.

Nevertheless, in noting the severity of the offence and its potential negative consequences, FIA President Todt made it clear that should there be any repetition of such behaviour, the matter would immediately be referred to the FIA International Tribunal for further investigation.

Commenting on the outcome of today's meeting, FIA President Jean Todt said: "Top level sport is an intense environment in which tempers can flare. However, it is the role of top sportsmen to deal with that pressure calmly and to conduct themselves in a manner that not only respects the regulations of the sport but which befits the elevated status they enjoy.

"Sportsmen must be cognisant of the impact their behaviour can have on those who look up to them. They are heroes and role models and to millions of fans worldwide and must conduct themselves accordingly."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Jigsaw, 07/07/2017 0:46

"I think it might be possible that Lewis lifted and not actually braked making Seb think he did. All forms of racing have that happen. I think Seb could have complained to the sanctioning body instead of getting physical. Tempers always flare in racing. "

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2. Posted by F One, 04/07/2017 17:10

"FIA in sensible decision shocker. :)"

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3. Posted by nonickname, 04/07/2017 14:35

"Sorry Chris, I was in bad taste. Lesson learned."

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4. Posted by Chris Roper, 04/07/2017 12:44

"He got away with an apology last time so tried his luck and got away with an apology again.
That is the FIA bowing to Ferrari pressure.
The only win win situation would have been a disqualification from Baku results, that would have been the appropriate punishment and set an example.
It would also have reset the championship with Hamilton and Vettel on equal points again.
As it stands the FIA looks weak and if Vettel wins the championship, by the current points difference, it will be a hollow victory.
I bet they throw the book at the next offender even if they apologise.
"

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5. Posted by Editor, 04/07/2017 12:08

"@ @R1Racing71

Click bait
"

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6. Posted by @R1Racing71, 04/07/2017 12:05

"@Chris Balfe
So what inspired the journalists from both the Sun and the Mirror to make those claims only to be proved false.
Seems a bit odd?"

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7. Posted by FormerF1Fan, 04/07/2017 11:51

"Hmmm. A lot of forum rage blethering on about road rage..."

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8. Posted by Editor, 04/07/2017 10:27

"@ @R1Racing71

Likewise The Mirror which cliamed Vettel was to be disqualified from Baku and "docked 12 points"."

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9. Posted by @R1Racing71, 04/07/2017 8:44

"Try doing that on a club or national race and they will throw the book at you.
Very surprised by this descision, and funnily enough on the Sun's website yesterday - it was reported that Sebastian was disqualified from the race with "more news to follow" before being taken down within an hour."

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10. Posted by Ro, 04/07/2017 6:49

"@RB and what about Vettel placing F1 into disrepute? He behaved like a thug. Period."

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11. Posted by Paul RB, 03/07/2017 22:55

"Ro, if that had happened on the conventional road I quite agree with your proposed punishment. However this happened during a motor race, regardless of the the prevailing operating status. It's pointless comparing the two. And your innuendo about pay offs not only places F1 in disrepute, it also places your response in the same category."

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12. Posted by mickl, 03/07/2017 22:25

"Sets a precedent then. Nerf your competitor and it will only result in a 10sec stop go penalty at most if you say 'sorry'. If the points situation stays the same till last race of the season and Vettel is in front of Lewis and Hamilton goes for the overtake........................"

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13. Posted by Ro, 03/07/2017 22:12

"Wow! I wander how much Ferrari put into the FIA coffers as a "donation". If that happened on the road the guy would have been banned and possibly jailed for road rage! A delayed apology, why didnt he do that just after the race? He had ample opportunity"

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14. Posted by nonickname, 03/07/2017 18:34 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 03/07/2017 19:48)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

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Official: No further action to be taken over Baku clash

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