Monaco Grand Prix: Sebastien Vettel to Feel the Bite

Heading into the coolest race of the year in Monaco, bad news has struck the Faenza-based squad.

In Monte Carlo, Scuderia Toro Rosso plan to introduce their new STR3 car. However, as a result, Sebastien Vettel will incur a five-grid penalty.

The new car requires a new gearbox, yet under current rules gearboxes have to last for at least four GP's in a row.  Regardless of the defense Toro Rosso can mount against the penalty imposed on Vettel, the young German will be relegated five places.

This is unfair considering the circumstances.

In my view this penalty is misplaced—there is a difference between deliberately changing gearboxes and introducing a new car that, under its specifications, will require a different gearbox altogether.

Why can't the FIA see this? A fairer ruling would have been to penalize the team with a fine or something—but not the driver.  He has nothing to do with it.

On a race track like Monaco, where overtaking is next to unthinkable, the young German talent will feel the bite. 

Being retrograded five places in qualifying will definitely entail finishing five places behind.

And Vettel's teammate, Sebastien Bourdais, will not incur a five-place grid setback since he failed to finish in Turkey. If this is not adding oil to the flame, what is?

This situation is unfair.  Why doesn't the FIA turn around and remove the penalty in Vettel's case? Why can't the FIA understand that Toro Rosso is bringing in a new car, which will have a different gearbox setup to the previous one?

If you don't agree with this take a look at the 10-second penalty incurred when you drive through a closed pit lane—understandable to some extent, but not when you're on your last lap of fuel.

On the positive side, this is a very good opportunity for the young German hotshot to harness character and tenacity—an opportunity to return fire in the face of injustice.

The bottom line is seen under similar circumstances.  Some people will turn the other cheek, but I hope Vettel won't go down in that fashion.

In the face of tough times I am looking forward to seeing the boy slap back twice as hard!!!