Raging Vettel Replaces Hamilton's Winner Board With Second-Place Sign And Accuses Stewards Of 'Stealing Race From Us'

Sebastian Vettel was left furious at the Canadian Grand Prix result and accused stewards of "stealing" a victory from Ferrari.

The German driver was so livid at the controversial five-second penalty which handed Lewis Hamilton a victory that he swapped the winner's board in front of the Mercedes for a second-place sign.

This season hasn't started well for Ferrari with Mercedes winning all six races this year prior to Sunday.

Ferrari were on course to record their first win in 2019 when Vettel took pole position and then led Hamilton for the first 48 laps.

With the Brit putting pressure on his rival, the German made a mistake on the third corner, went onto the grass and the re-entered the track.

On coming back on Vettel forced Hamilton off the track, when the Mercedes driver would have gone into the lead, and that cost the German a five-second penalty and the win.

Following the race, the four-time world champion parked away from the winner's enclosure to avoid interviews but then replaced Hamilton's winner's board and placed it where his car should have been:

The 31 year old was told of his punishment over the team radio during the race and said: "They are stealing the race from us.

"I had nowhere to go. I seriously had nowhere to go. I didn't see him. Where the hell was I supposed to go?"

Hamilton didn't see it like that, when told his rival claimed there was nowhere else to go the championship leader said, "That is his opinion. When you come back on you are not meant to go straight on the racing line. You are meant to come on safely."

As well as swapping the winner's boards around, Vettel also took a moment to stand on the top step of the podium before moving onto his second place spot.

Vettel made his way onto the top step of the podium. Image: PA Images

But the former Red Bull driver did at least tell Ferrari fans to stop booing Hamilton and telling them the 'silly decision' was to blame.

The controversy split opinion but Vettel didn't acknowledge that it was his error that had caused the incident and cost him a first victory since Spa last year.

This was a season where Ferrari were expected to finally end Mercedes dominance but Hamilton is now 62 points clear of Vettel, and 29 ahead of Merc teammate Valtteri Bottas, whilst the German team lead the Italian's by 123 in the constructors standings.

Was the penalty the right decision?

Topics: Formula One, Charles Leclerc, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, F1, F1 News

Ryan Sidle

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