Austrian Grand Prix

Vettel handed three-place grid drop for blocking Alonso

Ian Parkes Saturday 3 July 2021 20:30 Updated: 20:37

Vettel handed three-place grid drop for blocking Alonso

Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel has been handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Fernando Alonso during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Approaching the end of his second flying lap in Q2 in his Alpine, Alonso came across a slow Sebastian Vettel through turns nine and 10 and was forced to abort.

Although Vettel had slow cars in front of him as he prepared for his own flier, the four-time F1 champion has duly been penalised.

A stewards' report read: "Alonso was on his fast lap just before the end of Q2. When he approached the last two corners [9 and 10], there was still a queue of three cars preparing for their final qualifying lap.

"Vettel was the last car in this line and impeded Alonso and as a result, Alonso had to abort his final qualifying lap."

Alonso was furious at the time as he pulled alongside Vettel on the start-finish straight and shook his fist furiously at the German.

Post-qualifying, after understanding what had transpired, the two-time champion later stated that he did not think what had happened was Vettel's fault.

Despite that, Vettel will now start from 11th on the grid after qualifying eighth.

That promotes George Russell into eighth position after the Briton qualified in the top 10 for the first time in his 46 grands prix with Williams.

Vettel's Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll starts ninth, while Ferrari's Carlos Sainz is elevated to 10th.

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Vettel handed three-place grid drop for blocking Alonso

Vettel handed three-place grid drop for blocking Alonso