SILVERSTONE, U.K. -- Sebastian Vettel believes Formula One's penalty system needs to be more flexible after he lost three grid positions and a potential race victory at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Vettel was penalised for impeding Carlos Sainz during the second part of qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, dropping him to sixth on the grid even though no damage was done and both drivers progressed to the third and final qualifying session. Had he started from third on the grid, where he originally qualified, he would have been in an ideal position to capitalise on the retirement of the two Mercedes drivers and finish ahead of eventual race winner Max Verstappen.