Vettel’s 2017 post-race crash ended with a lift from Wehrlein

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. [1] [2]

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. [3] [1] [2]