Vettel summoned to stewards over alleged failure to respect yellow flags in Bahrain qualifying

Sebastian Vettel’s start to his Aston Martin career didn’t go to plan in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, after he failed to make it out of Q1. Yellow flags as a result of a spin for Haas’ Nikita Mazepin and Carlos Sainz's ailing Ferrari contributed to Vettel’s Q1 exit – but while he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the latter incident, there could be potential trouble for the four-time champion regarding the former, after he was summoned to appear before the stewards over an alleged failure to respect double waved yellow flags.

Mazepin blamed his spin at Turn 1 on brake-by-wire issues with his Haas VF-21, with Vettel – who Mazepin overtook as the Aston Martin driver was building up to his final lap in Q1 – forced to pass the Russian’s stricken car.

READ MORE: Vettel ‘upset and angry’ after yellow flags contribute to Q1 exit in Aston Martin qualifying debut

And while the stewards had earlier declared that no further action was required against either Vettel, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll and George Russell after the “telemetry showed they took appropriate actions” passing Sainz at Turn 8, a further hearing with the stewards at 1330 local time on Sunday morning could land Vettel in hot water over the Mazepin incident.

READ MORE: Mazepin blames brake-by-wire issue for spin-filled qualifying debut

Should Vettel be found to have breached the rules, a five-place grid drop and penalty points could be on the cards – which, given that he only qualified P18, would put him plum last on the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix.