#F1 Azerbaijan GP: Sebastian Vettel one penalty away from race suspension

SEBASTIAN Vettel is three demerit points away from becoming the first Formula 1 driver to be suspended under the new regulations surrounding FIA (International Automobile Federation) licenses.

The Ferrari star was on Monday morning (AEDT) whacked with a 10-second stop-go penalty on lap 34 of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku and lost three points on his superlicense.

Officials ruled Vettel had committed an act of “dangerous driving” for appearing to drive alongside and steer into the side of Lewis Hamilton when the race was under a safety car.

Hamilton blew up after the race, declaring the 10-second stop-go penalty handed to Vettel was a slap on the wrist which will encourage other drivers to produce similar “disgusting” acts.

However, the true cost of the punishment handed to Vettel is only now being realised.

The loss of three additional points on his license leaves Vettel on the verge of being hit with a one-race suspension.

Under the rules of the FIA superlicenses granted to Formula 1 drivers, racers face a one-match ban if they lose all 12 points on their license in a 12-month period.

Vettel’s brain snap in Baku was the fourth time he has been docked points on his license in the past 12 months.

It means an identical three-point penalty at the Austrian Grand Prix, held on July 9, will see the four-time world champion suspended.

Source: F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel suspension over FIA superlicense