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F1 Japanese GP: Vettel hit with Japanese GP grid penalty

Sebastian Vettel has been handed a three-place grid penalty for next week's Japanese Grand Prix as punishment for his turn one clash with Nico Rosberg in the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari started the Sepang race in fifth place and made a strong start to challenge Max Verstappen for third place coming into the opening bend.

However, he would enter too quickly from a tight inside angle, Vettel out-braking himself and clipping the right-rear wheel of Rosberg's Mercedes as the title contender turned into the apex ahead of him.

Ending Vettel's race and sending Rosberg to the back of the field - from which he would recover to third -, the four-time world champion has thus been punished with a three-place grid penalty to be applied in Suzuka and two penalty points.

"Having thoroughly reviewed the video and having spoken to the driver concerned, the Stewards determined that although the cars involved in the incident were all moving at relatively similar speeds, the driver of Car 5 made a small error entering to the inside of turn 1 that led to the contact with Car 6.

"As a consequence, Car 6 was caused to spin from second place and loose multiple positions, which the Stewards determined was predominantly the fault of the driver of Car 5 and therefore ordered the penalty above for causing a collision."

The incident was staunchly criticised by both Rosberg - who lamented being 't-boned by a four-time world champion' - and Verstappen , whom Vettel blasted for his driving standards following the Belgian Grand Prix.

Zdroj: crash.net