Sebastian Vettel relegated to fifth at Mexican GP after penalty

Watch analysis of the breathless end to the Mexican GP as Sebastian Vettel and the two Red Bull drivers go head to head Watch analysis of the breathless end to the Mexican GP as Sebastian Vettel and the two Red Bull drivers go head to head

Sebastian Vettel has been demoted from third to fifth in the Mexican GP after being handed a 10-second penalty for his collision with Daniel Ricciardo.

The decision means Ricciardo has been promoted to the final podium position behind Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, with Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen moving up to fourth

Verstappen had originally finished third but was handed an immediate five-second sanction after the race for cutting the first corner while battling Vettel. The Ferrari then came under attack from Ricciardo at Turn Four, with the two drivers making contact in the braking zone and drawing the attention of the stewards.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel became increasingly frustrated and let rip a barrage of expletive-laden radio messages throughout the Mexican GP Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel became increasingly frustrated and let rip a barrage of expletive-laden radio messages throughout the Mexican GP

The three drivers became embroiled in a post-race war of words over the two incidents, which occurred in the race's final three laps.

After having his podium finish taken away, Verstappen labelled Vettel - who vented his fury with the Dutchman's driving over the radio - a "very frustrated guy" and claimed the German's defence of position from Ricciardo had been "ridiculous".

After a dramatic end to the race, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo felt that Sebastian Vettel should've been penalised for his defensive move After a dramatic end to the race, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo felt that Sebastian Vettel should've been penalised for his defensive move

"Daniel was alongside him and he just turned into him," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.

Ricciardo had called for a penalty against his former team-mate, suggesting Vettel had broken the so-called 'Verstappen rule' introduced at last weekend's US GP which prohibits moving under braking.

Verstappen tells Vettel to 'go back to school'

"He did what everyone has been complaining about - moving under braking," Ricciardo told Sky F1. "He's smiling now but for me he doesn't deserve to be on the podium. He kept on closing the door under braking and in the end I had nowhere to go."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner thinks the stewards were right to promote Ricciardo to third place at Vettel's expense Red Bull team principal Christian Horner thinks the stewards were right to promote Ricciardo to third place at Vettel's expense

After speaking to both drivers, stewards in Mexico ruled that video and telemetry evidence showed that Vettel did change direction under braking, a movement found to be "abnormal" and "potentially dangerous in view of the proximity of the wheels of each car".

Vettel also had two penalty points added to his race licence, his sixth in the last 12 months which is halfway to a one-race ban.

After Vettel's demotion, Red Bull staged a podium ceremony of their own for Ricciardo late on Sunday night

Mexican GP updated results

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes

3. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull

4. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

5. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari

6. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

7. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India

8. Valtteri Bottas, Williams

9. Felipe Massa, Williams

10. Sergio Perez, Force India

The stewards' verdict in full

'The stewards paid particular attention to the Race Directors Notes from the US Grand Prix (v2) and from this event (point 18).

'Notwithstanding the F1 Commission directive to "let the drivers race" we note the concern that has been expressed about manoeuvrers involving a change of direction under braking as expressed at the Drivers Briefing at the US Grand Prix and in the Race Director's Notes from the US Grand Prix and this event.

'The telemetry and video evidence shows that the driver of Car 5 did change direction under braking. Article 27.5 and the Race Director's Notes have essentially three criteria that determine a breach

1) Driving in a manner potentially dangerous

2) An abnormal change of direction

3) Another driver having to take evasive action

'The video footage, including the close circuit footage, the broadcast vision, both drivers' on board cameras plus the telemetry show that there was an abnormal change of direction by Car 5 and this was considered to be potentially dangerous in view of the proximity of the wheels of each car.

'The video evidence clearly shows that Car 3 had to take evasive action as a result. Accordingly as all three criteria have been met, the driver of Car 5 is guilty of a breach of Article 27.5.'