Ferrari considering Vettel protest

This year’s Championship could yet be decided in the courts with reports claiming Ferrari are considering protesting the result of the Brazilian GP…

This year’s Championship could yet be decided in the courts with reports claiming Ferrari are considering protesting the result of the Brazilian GP.

Sebastian Vettel clinched the Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Interlagos circuit after bringing his RB8 home in sixth place. That meant he beat Fernando Alonso to the crown by three points.

There was some debate in the wake of the grand prix as to whether Vettel had overtaken Jean-Eric Vergne under yellow boards as video footage appeared to show this with the German completing the move before he passes a green boards.

In the immediate aftermath Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle reported that he had “spoken to Gary Connolly, one of the race stewards, and he has absolutely confirmed that they were red-and-yellow boards” and not yellow ones.

No investigations were launched and Vettel retained his sixth place, winning his third World Champion.

However, Ferrari are now reportedly “evaluating” the footage and could lodge a protest.

“We’re looking at the video. We have until tomorrow to file an appeal,” Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni told The Associated Press on Thursday.

According to BBC Sport it is “Alonso, who was World champion in 2005 and 2006” who is “believed to be pushing Ferrari to make an official protest to the FIA.”

Under FIA regulations, motorsport’s governing body has until November 30 to investigate any incidents “likely to have an effect on the result of a Championship.”

Should Vettel be found guilty, he would incur a 20 second penalty, which would drop him to eighth and hand Alonso the Championship by one point.

The FIA have yet to comment on whether or not a protest has been lodged.