F1: Vettel loses Mexican GP podium

Sebastian Vettel has been given a 10-second post-race penalty for moving under braking when defending from Daniel Ricciardo in the Mexican GP, demoting him to fifth.

The German was promoted to third moments after the checkered flag when stewards penalized Max Verstappen for going off track defending from Vettel in the closing stages. But Vettel and Ricciardo were called to the stewards to give their view of the tussle at Turn 4, which resulted the pair banging wheels and Vettel retaining the position as Ricciardo attacked on the inside.

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The stewards deemed Vettel made an "abnormal change of direction" that was "potentially dangerous" and handed the time penalty as well as two points on his license.

As a result, Ricciardo was promoted to third place in the revised classification, with Verstappen moving up to fourth and Vettel slotting into fifth.

It comes after the FIA issued a clampdown on drivers moving under braking ahead of the United States Grand Prix, a change that was referenced in the stewards' statement.

"Notwithstanding the F1 Commission directive to 'let the drivers race,' we note the concern that has been expressed about maneuvers involving a change of direction under braking as expressed at the drivers briefing at the U.S. Grand Prix and in the race director's notes from the U.S. Grand Prix and this event," it read.

"The telemetry and video evidence shows that the driver of car 5 did change direction under braking.

"Article 27.5 and the race director's notes have essentially three criteria that determine a breach: driving in a manner potentially dangerous, an abnormal change of direction and another driver having to take evasive action.

"The video footage, including the close circuit footage, the broadcast vision, both drivers' on board cameras plus the telemetry show that there was an abnormal change of direction by car 5 and this was considered to be potentially dangerous in view of the proximity of the wheels of each car. The video evidence clearly shows that car 3 had to take evasive action as a result.

"Accordingly, as all three criteria have been met, the driver of car 5 is guilty of a breach of article 27.5."

Vettel now has six points on his superlicense, with any driver who accrues 12 over a rolling 12-month period receiving a one-race ban.