Sebastian Vettel is now just three penalty points away from a one-race ban in the wake of his incident at Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix.
Vettel spun through the Ascari Chicane on lap seven and was judged to have re-joined the track in an unsafe manner, causing a collision with Lance Stroll.
Stewards took a dim view of Vettel’s actions and handed him a 10-second stop-and-go penalty, along with three points on his license.
Italian GP: Drivers' Standings | Constructors' Standings | Race Result
Formula 1 drivers are allowed a margin of 12 penalty points across a rolling 12-month period, and Vettel’s latest transgression brings him up to nine.
Vettel picked up two penalty points for his infamous wide moment and re-joining in Canada, and another two for hitting Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix.
His other two came in Austin last year, for failing to slow sufficiently for red flags during a practice session.
It means Vettel will now drop those two points until October 19 – one year after the penalty – leaving him with little margin for the next three rounds in Singapore, Russia and Japan.
Even if he safely navigates the upcoming trio of events he will remain on seven points until at least June 2020, when he will drop the points earned in Canada.
Vettel eventually came home 13th after the incident and subsequent penalty.
