3
Sebastian Vettel has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for the US Grand Prix after stewards deemed that he didn't slow sufficiently while under a red flag period that occurred during free practice one in Austin.
Vettel was summoned to the stewards following the session to explain his point of view. The grid demotion has put a large dent in his hopes for keeping the championship title fight alive, as he could lose out to rival Lewis Hamilton this weekend.
"Alleged breach of Article 31.6 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, car 5 [Vettel] failing to slow sufficiently during a Red Flag period in Practice 1 at 10:40," read the notes from the stewards' summons.
The red flag was brought out following Charles Leclerc's trip through the gravel trap. The Sauber driver spun at Turn 9 in the wet conditions and upon rejoining the track, he threw a sheet of stones over the racing line on the exit of Turn 10.
Vettel has also been given two penalty points on his license for the incident. Last time out in Japan, Force India's Esteban Ocon was hit with the same penalty after he too failed to slow down to the required level during a red flag period.
“Breach of this regulation is seen to be an extremely serious matter,” the official FIA statement read. “To be consistent with previous decisions on similar incidents this year, the Stewards assessed the penalty specified above.”
| Hamilton 1st | Vettel 3rd + |
| Hamilton 2nd | Vettel 5th + |
| Hamilton 3rd | Vettel 7th + |
| Hamilton 4th | Vettel 8th + |
| Hamilton 5th | Vettel 9th + |
| Hamilton 6th | Vettel 11th + |
| Hamilton 7th | Title fight goes to Mexico |
wow ... and 2 penalty points. I am truly surprised by that. Guess they couldn't find any reason not to give it. Unlike when he's involved with another car.
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
280,786 comments on Aston Martin
57 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Sebastian Vettel
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Maybe Leclerc should be penalised for the audacity to spin off and spoil the pretty patterns in gravel. These are race tracks, but maybe not for much longer. This stuff is really turning me off the sport big time.