Berliner Tageszeitung - Mercedes, Ferrari team bosses called to see race stewards

Wolff and Vasseur clashed in their views about the event in Nevada where Carlos Sainz's Ferrari car was damaged by a loose drain cover, leading to the abandonment of first practice.

They were summoned by the race stewards in Abu Dhabi to determine if they had breached the sporting code of the ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA).

Both Vasseur and Wolff were outspoken on the condition of the Las Vegas circuit and the event, allegedly using "certain language" that may have breached the code.

The track repairs required by the damaged drain cover led to opening practice being reduced to nine minutes and a delay of more than two hours before second practice took place.

Sainz's car was extensively damaged by the drain cover and had to be rebuilt, resulting in the Spanish driver being handed a grid penalty.

Mercedes were reported to be poised to protest if Ferrari had not been penalised for taking new components which exceeded the limit for Sainz.

Wolff objected to comments by Vasseur which were critical of the Las Vegas event and claimed it was a premature reaction after only half a day's action on the new track.

The FIA's code states that "any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA" would be considered a breach.

The stewards in Abu Dhabi have been delegated the authority to investigate by the stewards in Las Vegas because there was insufficient time to hold a hearing last weekend following the race on Saturday night.

K. Berger--BTZ