Sebastian Vettel was on Sunday reprimanded for his unusual doughnut celebration after winning his third consecutive Indian Grand Prix while his team Red Bull was fined 25,000 euros for the driver’s act at the Buddh International Circuit here.
After securing his fourth straight world title, Vettel celebrated the feat by doing a doughnut with his RB09 and followed that by bowing down before his car at the tarmac of the circuit and then jumped to top of the car to wave towards the crowd.
But his celebrations did not go down well with the FIA stewards of the race. “The driver failed to proceed directly to the post race parc ferme as detailed under Article 43.3 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations. Due to special circumstances the stewards accepted the explanation of the driver,” an FIA statement said.
In the post-race press conference, Vettel, however, said, “The team engineer asked me to return but I didn’t care. I wanted to enjoy my victory with the packed fans at the main grandstand.”
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner supported Vettel, saying showing emotions was good for the sport. After three reprimands a driver is handed a 10-place grid penalty. “He’ll get his fingers or knuckles rapped for it. It will be disappointing if after winning the world championship (he’s rapped). Showing exuberance in front of the crowd is good for the sport,” Horner had said after the race.