Vettel under threat of grid drop for red flag speeding in FP1

Sebastian Vettel could pick up a grid drop penalty for the United States Grand Prix after allegedly failing to slow sufficiently under red flags conditions during the first free practice session at Circuit of the Americas.

After Charles Leclerc spun off midway through FP1, the Sauber driver dragged gravel on to the track which triggered a brief red flag so marshals could clean the track of stones.

Vettel has been summoned to the FIA Stewards office before the start of FP2 having been suspected of speeding under the red flag.

If found guilty of the offence, Vettel is likely to pick up a three-place grid penalty following Ocon’s grid drop for the same mistake during practice at the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month.

The error could put Vettel on the backfoot trying to keep his F1 title hopes alive in the US race. The Ferrari driver trails Lewis Hamilton by 67 points and if he concedes eight points or more it means the Mercedes driver will wrap up the 2018 world drivers’ title with three races to spare.