Ferrari considers Vettel case now closed

Ferrari on Friday said the controversy about Sebastian Vettel’s alleged illegal overtaking move is "now closed".

The Italian team had contemplating protesting the result of the championship-deciding Brazilian grand prix, after video footage purportedly showed Red Bull’s German driver passing a Toro Rosso under yellow flags.

Ferrari sent the FIA a letter requesting "clarification".

"The federation ... informs it has replied to Scuderia Ferrari ... stating that as the overtaking manoeuvre was not in breach of the regulations ... there was no infringement to investigate".

Ferrari said in a statement on Friday:

"The request for a clarification from the FIA, regarding Vettel’s passing move on Vergne, came about through the need to shed light on the circumstances of the move, which came out on the Internet only a few days after the race.

The letter to the FIA was in no way intended to undermine the legality of the race result. We received tens of thousands of queries relating to this matter from all over the world and it was incumbent on us to take the matter further, asking the Federation to look into an incident that could have cast a shadow over the championship in the eyes of all Formula 1 enthusiasts, not just Ferrari fans.

Ferrari duly takes note of the reply sent by the FIA this morning and therefore considers the matter now closed."