Stewards explain why Sebastian Vettel avoided a jump start penalty in Japan. How Sebastian was able to avoid a penalty.

The Japanese Grand Prix stewards have explained how Sebastian Vettel was able to avoid a penalty for a suspected jump start. Seb’s car moved before the red lights went out, but the Scuderia Ferrari driver stopped his car before the start was given. According to the stewards he did not infringe the rules because he was not moving at the moment the lights went out.

“The stewards reviewed video evidence and the jump-start report based on the information from the FIA approved and supplied transponder fitted to each car,” they explained.

“Whilst the video shows some movement that movement was within the acceptable tolerance of the F1 jump start system which formerly defines a jump start per Article 36.13(a) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”

The relevant regulation states a driver will receive a drive-through penalty or 10-second stop-and-go penalty if they “move before the start signal is given, such judgement being made by an FIA approved and supplied transponder fitted to each car”.

Kimi Raikkonen was given a drive-through penalty in the Russian Grand Prix when he was judged to have jumped the start, despite the stewards ruling he did not gain an advantage from it. However Raikkonen’s car was observed to have been moving as the red lights went out.