31/10/2016
NEWS STORY
Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has hit out at the time penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel third place.
While almost 90% of yesterday's Mexican Grand Prix was typically processional, the remaining 10% is the sort of thing that will have even those with barely a passing interest in the sport talking today.
While the press hits out at Sebastian Vettel for his expletive ridden rants - can you believe The Sun questioning the German's "crude word" - for the most part race fans appear to side with the German and in particular the post-race penalty he was handed.
Joining them is team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, who has described the penalty as "excessive" and "unfair".
"Today could have felt special," he said, "we fully deserved this podium, which was taken away by bureaucracy.
"The whole team had showed great stamina by staying united and focused in a difficult moment," he continued. "Our strategy had made it possible to make good progress through the race and both drivers did a very good job.
"Unfortunately, we were penalized by the stewards' unappealable decision which, in my opinion, is too harsh and somehow unfair."
His words cut no mustard at Red Bull however.
"I've never seen such a huge line change as when Vettel moved over to Ricciardo and pushed him off the track, leaving him no space at all," said Helmet Marko.
"Vettel completely turned in on him," he continued. "This is exactly what the anti-Verstappen rule should forbid you to do.
However, asked about the incident which saw his own driver, Verstappen, penalised, the Austrian said: "We support him. The decision is not understandable. They use different standards and this is not okay."
Unsurprisingly, Christian Horner continued the 'Max penalty bad, Seb penalty good' meme.
"There has been so much debate about movement on the brakes since Japan, a clear directive came out last weekend, and a clear movement was made on the brakes," he insisted. "Had that been prior to that ruling, it would possibly have been OK. But the rules are clearly what the rules are.
"Sebastian has ended up with a ten-second penalty that has now elevated both of our drivers to third and fourth. So we have had the slightly unusual scenario where we have had Max finish third on the road, make it as far as the green room, for Sebastian to go on the podium and take the plaudits, and for Daniel to be taking the trophy home.
"I am glad to see the stewards made the right decision regarding the incident," he concluded.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City, here.