Britain's
BBC is reporting that Ferrari "evaluating footage" to establish whether there is enough evidence to lodge a protest that, if successful, could overturn the result of the Formula 1 World Championship.
The footage, from Vettel's on-board camera, appears to show the German passing Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne in a yellow "caution" zone. If Ferrari were to file a protest to this effect and it were to be upheld, Vettel would have 20 seconds added to his total race time, which would demote him to eighth place – just enough to make Alonso World Champion by a single point. Alonso finished three points behind Vettel after placing second in Sunday's race, while Vettel finished sixth.
By it its rule book, the FIA could act to punish such a transgression even without a protest from Ferrari. Article 179b of the governing body's international sporting code says: "If, in events forming part of an FIA championship, a new element is discovered, whether or not the stewards of the meeting have already given a ruling, these stewards of the meeting or, failing this, those designated by the FIA must meet… summoning the party or parties concerned to hear any relevant explanations and to judge in the light of the facts and elements brought before them."
The FIA rule book states that the deadline for such action is this Friday, Nov. 30.