Vettel complaints could prompt qualifying rule change

Penalties for blocking drivers in qualifying could be made less strict after Sebastian Vettel was penalised at the Austrian Grand Prix. Stewards handed Vettel a three-place grid drop in Spielberg for blocking Carlos Sainz Jr, although the move did not prevent the Renault man from progressing in qualifying.

Vettel qualified third at the Red Bull Ring, but had to start sixth and managed to scrape the final podium position to leapfrog Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship.

The Ferrari man was punished for driving slowly on the racing line after a flying lap, with Sainz having to take evasive action after charging behind Vettel in Q2. Sainz regardless went on to set a quick enough lap time to progress to the top-10 shootout.

Sainz suggested that he would not want to see Vettel punished after the German said he had not been told about the Renault's presence from the pit-wall.

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Speaking after the race, Vettel said: "I don't want to drag on about it, but the rule book's now so fricking big.

"I think it's a result of all the drivers, all of us, I think we've more or less all been there, whinging and complaining, 'oh he's done this, he's done that.' In the end, you should let us sort it out on track, that's my belief."

Former F racer Derek Warwick was among the stewarding panel in Spielberg and has conceded that the incident could prompt a rethink.

"Our hands are tied," Warwick told Auto Motor und Sport. "The rules demand it.

"It has already caught out other drivers further down the grid, so you can't punish them and not the big guys.

"Maybe there would only be a penalty if the action was dangerous or the affected driver doesn't get into the next session or loses places."