Post race (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!) Don't read until the replay is over.

[racer x-f1]

Vettel was penalized 20 seconds for his pass on Button near the end of the race. He will be placed 5th and Kimi makes the podium.
Story:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101426

[Cooper5]

makes no sense

[Vobs56]

I could see why he could be penalized "by the rule book," but the way he pulled away from Button after passing him, how can they justify a 20 second penalty? Illegal over-take or not, Raikkonen and Kobayashi had great races but they have no business finishing 3/4 over Vettel. I don't understand how you can penalize a driver 10, 20 seconds for an isolated move. Passing more than one car at a time is fairly rare so how do you penalize a driver for the amount of time that would cost them from 2 to as much as 5 or more positions? What's wrong with a grid penalty for the next race? This makes just as much sense (none) as a gwc in like nascar. P1 driver pulls away 1-2 seconds per lap on the P2 driver then they bunch everything back up for a restart because 2 drivers battling for 24th position crash out, then the P1 driver loses it on the unwarranted restart.

[karter]

Button gave him the outside going into the turn because he thought Vettel could not complete the pass in the hairpin. I don't think you should get to go off track to complete the pass so I agree with the call, and the 20-seconds puts a penalty on it.

[SteveK51]

If you don't want cars racing outide the exit of a hairpin, don't put pavement there. If it has to be paved, put in the "sleeping policemen" like at Monza or Barcelona to discourage driving there. Otherwise, if it's paved it's fair game in my book.

[JacquesNGilles]

Because grass or giant bumps aren't a good idea at the end of a straight where some cars were hitting 198MPH.

When the blocking rules were clarified this week, so were the "passing off of the track" rules that Nico whined about at Bahrain. Seb broke them.

As for the time penalty, that's what is given when an incident happens near the end of the race and the stewards cannot give out a penalty. The time though the pits with 2-3 second pitstop (from speed limit ON line until speed limit off line) was around 14 seconds. Add the slowing of the car and the need to go from around 60 back up to racing speedds and the penalty makes sense.

If you don't want cars racing outide the exit of a hairpin, don't put pavement there. If it has to be paved, put in the "sleeping policemen" like at Monza or Barcelona to discourage driving there. Otherwise, if it's paved it's fair game in my book.

[Tippo]

I could see why he could be penalized "by the rule book," but the way he pulled away from Button after passing him, how can they justify a 20 second penalty? Illegal over-take or not, Raikkonen and Kobayashi had great races but they have no business finishing 3/4 over Vettel. I don't understand how you can penalize a driver 10, 20 seconds for an isolated move. Passing more than one car at a time is fairly rare so how do you penalize a driver for the amount of time that would cost them from 2 to as much as 5 or more positions? What's wrong with a grid penalty for the next race? This makes just as much sense (none) as a gwc in like nascar. P1 driver pulls away 1-2 seconds per lap on the P2 driver then they bunch everything back up for a restart because 2 drivers battling for 24th position crash out, then the P1 driver loses it on the unwarranted restart.

Its based on the time they'd lose having to complete a drive through penalty. The penalty applies to the race in question as thats the race where the illegal overtake won the driver points. Imagine if it was the last race of the season, and the move would win the Championship, what justice would a grid penalty for the following season serve then?

[Lis]

The penalty seems a little harsh. Had it happened earlier in the race a drive thru would have been applied which apparently takes around 12 seconds. Slapping him with a 20 second peno dropped him further back than where the D T likely would have. jmo

[SteveK51]

Because grass or giant bumps aren't a good idea at the end of a straight where some cars were hitting 198MPH.

I wasn't referring to the pavement if you go straight on at the corner, just the exit. If you miss the corner, you're going off before you get to where Seb drove.

Look at Road America as another example. If you miss turn 5 there is pavement if you go straight and aggressive, tall curbs if you run wide of the corner exit. Something like that and Vettel would not have tried that move, and thus there would be no need for a ruling to be made.

[Frank Capua]

makes no sense

Make no sense?

Vettel could have easily passed Button later and within the rules but he didn't...

Makes all kinds of sense

You can not advance your position by going off course Vettel did and this was just a matter of time. I figured all along they'd wait for all the Germans to leave before they announced it... something else that made all kinds of sense.

[PDC]

Who could have imagined Alonso would be in this position after the way his Ferrari looked after Melbourne. Unbelievable reliability too, I think I saw he has scored in over 20 consecutive races.

Speaking of Ferrari, has Massa retired? I can't recall having seen him this year.

[Ferris]

Correct penalty on Vettel was made by the Race Stewards. Rules are Rules and the Race Stewards just need to be consistent. Later this week you will see a rule clarification on the engine mapping. Red Bull won't be happy, but so be it.....

[Indy kiwi]

Correct penalty on Vettel was made by the Race Stewards. Rules are Rules and the Race Stewards just need to be consistent. Later this week you will see a rule clarification on the engine mapping. Red Bull won't be happy, but so be it.....

Agree = 100% agree with the penalty. If Vettel had been smart he would have let Jenson back past him. He still had a lap left to pull off a legal passing move.