Vettel’s 2017 post-race crash ended with a lift from Wehrlein
After finishing fourth at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, Vettel lost his Ferrari to a collision with Lance Stroll on the slowing-down lap.
Vettel had climbed from last on the grid to fourth at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix when he passed Stroll’s Williams on the outside at Turn 5 during the slowing-down lap. Their cars collided, tearing the left-rear tyre from Vettel’s Ferrari and leaving it undriveable. He rode back to the pits on Pascal Wehrlein’s Sauber.
RacingNews365 revisited the incident in September 2026, describing Stroll as drifting wide. The stewards’ account gives a fuller picture: it says Vettel turned slightly towards the apex as Stroll moved slightly away from it. Sky Sports also reported the collision and Wehrlein’s lift; its description of Vettel clipping the rear of the Williams differs from the stewards’ account of contact between Vettel’s left-rear and Stroll’s right-front tyres.
Vettel blamed Stroll for failing to look, while Stroll said he was following his normal in-lap routine. After reviewing footage, the stewards found neither driver wholly or predominantly to blame and took no further action.
Sources 03
- SOURCENo further action over Vettel-Stroll post-race crashFormula 1 · Source date as found: 2017-10-01
- SOURCEVIDEO: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll crash after the Malaysia GPSky Sports · Source date as found: 2017-10-10
- SOURCESebastian Vettel hitches a ride from F1 rival after bizarre post-race crashRacingNews365 English · Source date as found: 2026-09-30
Source context
RacingNews365’s September 2026 article revisits a collision and stewards’ decision from 2017; it does not report a new crash.
Claims and supporting evidence 6
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix result and post-race collision 1 October 2017 This is a historical incident, not a collision in 2026.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Damage and return to the pits 1 October 2017 The sidepod detail is specified in the retrieved RacingNews365 account; the independently read Sky Sports text confirms the ride.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Stewards’ decision 1 October 2017 A no-action decision is not a finding that either driver’s account was wholly correct.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Competing explanations and steward account 1 October 2017; RacingNews365 retrospective published 30 September 2026 The drivers’ allegations are attributed accounts, not established fault. The quoted official report and the no-action finding provide material context.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Difference between the retrieved descriptions of contact 2017 reporting on the 1 October collision The retrieved Sky Sports text describes replays, but the evidence here is its written description, not an independent viewing of the video.
This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Reason given for the 2026 retrospective 30 September–4 October 2026 The proposed return to Sepang is a claim in the retrieved retrospective, not a confirmed event on this source record.
Corrections and updates to this story
De Nederlandse beschrijving van de botsing en de schade aan de Ferrari is verduidelijkt.
This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.