‘Fun police’: F1 world divided by Sebastian Vettel’s antics at Australian Grand Prix

There were hilarious scenes of former F1 world champ Sebastian Vettel at the Australian Grand Prix, but not everyone was impressed.

Sebastian Vettel may be in the twilight of his career but he still knows how to put on a show for F1 fans.

The four-time world champion was at the centre of some hilarious scenes during Friday’s practice ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Watch Every Practice, Qualifying & Race of The 2022 Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix. Live & Ad-Break Free During Racing on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Vettel missed the first two races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia after testing positive to Covid and his first race weekend of the year didn’t get off to the greatest start at Albert Park.

With 15 minutes remaining in the first practice session, he broke down at Turn 10 and smoke began billowing out of the rear of his Aston Martin.

He quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher from a marshal to put out the smoke.

Then once all the other cars had finished their laps and returned to the pits, Vettel borrowed a scooter and nonchalantly around the track to return to the paddock.

The German was having the time of his life, waving to the crowd while cruising around on the scooter with his helmet half-perched on his head.

Sebastian Vettel lapping Albert Park on a scooter and waving to the crowd at the end of FP1 😂👏 #AusGP#WTF1pic.twitter.com/c6t39VQXp3

— WTF1 (@wtf1official) April 8, 2022

Ladies and gents: Four-time world champion - Sebastian Vettel. #AusGPpic.twitter.com/hDg9MXQm7G

— Pranav Mukul (@pranavmukul) April 8, 2022

But the fun ended when it was announced Vettel was under investigation by officials for entering the track without permission.

The FIA will hold a hearing with race stewards to decided what punishment, if any, Vettel deserves, although a fine appears mostly likely at this stage.

Viewers couldn’t get enough of the bizarre sight of the 34-year-old parading around the track on two wheels.

Sebastian Vettel traded four wheels for two during practice. Pic: Fox Sports.

“Well he enjoyed himself,” Sky Sports host Simon Lazenby said.

“It was almost a parade lap for him. And a very fetching helmet that we can all stand behind.”

Pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz said: “It was an iconic picture wasn’t it? Sebastian Vettel’s car, the engine having given up the ghost and he has to borrow a marshal’s Suzuki moped (scooter) to get back to the pits.

“Not wearing his helmet fully on, which might get him a $60 fine from the Melbourne police.”

Expert commentator Martin Brundle said it wasn’t the best look and Vettel could expect a hit to his hip pocket.

“You just really can’t afford to spend a lap on a scooter if you’re a Formula One driver,” Brundle said.

“I can imagine he’ll be getting a thousand lines, ‘I must not go on the track in a scooter and not wear my crash helmet properly’ or somewhat more expensive than that.”

Sebastian Vettel hasn’t had the smoothest of starts to the season. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Never change, Seb. Pic: Fox Sports

But some F1 fans labelled the FIA the “fun police” for even investigating Vettel for his relatively harmless antics on the scooter.

Channel 10 reporter Kate Doak tweeted: “If Seb Vettel gets punished for this, then

@fia needs to look at changing the rules. Human responses like this can only be good for motorsport.”

F1 journalist Jennie Gow said: “Of course, Vettel is under investigation by the fun police …”

But respected F1 broadcaster Will Buxton disagreed, arguing the officials were well within their rights to investigate and penalise Vettel for safety reasons.

“Under investigation but no guarantee he’ll get a penalty (if he does, likely financial),” he tweeted.

“5 minute window after sessions you can’t enter track. One exception is with permission from a marshal. Not FIA being fun police. It’s FIA being safety police, which is literally their job.”

Aston Martin later confirmed Vettel’s car would be fitted with a new engine.