Hamilton Title Boost After Vettel Penalty
LONDON (Dispatches) - Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel has been handed a three-place grid penalty at the United States Grand Prix.
The decision, for not slowing sufficiently for a red flag in practice, increases the chances of Lewis Hamilton clinching his fifth world title in the race on Sunday.
Hamilton will be champion if he scores eight more points than Vettel.
Hamilton has won five of the last six races and topped both Friday sessions.
Vettel's offence came after the first session was stopped because Sauber's Charles Leclerc, who will be Vettel's team-mate at Ferrari next year, had strewn gravel on the track at Turn Nine when rejoining after a spin in wet conditions.
Stewards ruled that Vettel had gone faster than the minimum time permitted in that area of the track.
The decision means Vettel cannot start the race higher than fourth, even if he takes pole position on Saturday, when the wet conditions of Friday are expected to continue.
Mercedes have been quicker than Ferrari in the wet so far this season. If Vettel qualifies third, he will start the race sixth, and his chances of finishing second will be small.
The decision, for not slowing sufficiently for a red flag in practice, increases the chances of Lewis Hamilton clinching his fifth world title in the race on Sunday.
Hamilton will be champion if he scores eight more points than Vettel.
Hamilton has won five of the last six races and topped both Friday sessions.
Vettel's offence came after the first session was stopped because Sauber's Charles Leclerc, who will be Vettel's team-mate at Ferrari next year, had strewn gravel on the track at Turn Nine when rejoining after a spin in wet conditions.
Stewards ruled that Vettel had gone faster than the minimum time permitted in that area of the track.
The decision means Vettel cannot start the race higher than fourth, even if he takes pole position on Saturday, when the wet conditions of Friday are expected to continue.
Mercedes have been quicker than Ferrari in the wet so far this season. If Vettel qualifies third, he will start the race sixth, and his chances of finishing second will be small.