F1: Vettel gets grid penalty for Turn 1 collision

Sebastian Vettel has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the next Formula 1 grand prix in Japan following his first-corner collision with Nico Rosberg in Malaysia.

The stewards, led by BRDC president Derek Warwick at Sepang, deemed Ferrari driver Vettel to have made "a small error" that ultimately cost championship leader Rosberg "multiple positions."

The stewards' verdict read: "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 [Vettel] made a small error entering to the inside of Turn 1 that led to the contact with the driver of car 6 [Rosberg].

"As a consequence, car 6 was caused to spin from second place and lose multiple positions, which the stewards determined was predominantly the fault of the driver of car five, and therefore ordered the penalty for causing a collision."

Vettel has also been handed two superlicense penalty points and now has four overall for the past 12-month period.

Vettel collided with the right-rear of Rosberg's Mercedes, but with the Ferrari driver coming off far worse as the accident broke the front-left suspension and forced him to retire.

Originally on Autosport.com