United States GP: Starting grid with penalties applied

United States GP: Starting grid with penalties applied

Martin Macdonald

Sunday 21 October 2018 18:10

Lewis Hamilton is poised to claim his fifth drivers' championship at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, and will be aided by Sebastian Vettel receiving a grid penalty for a speeding offence during practice. The German is joined by Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley in receiving penalties, while Max Verstappen was also demoted.

Vettel's penalty came as a result of failing to slow sufficiently under red flags in Friday practice.

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The German was handed the same three-place penalty given to Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon for similar infringements earlier this season.

Kimi Raikkonen moves up to join Hamilton on the front row of the grid and will be fitted with quicker tyres than the Mercedes man - giving Ferrari hope of interrupting the Silver Arrows' gameplan.

Hartley and Gasly will line up on the back row after taking new power units as Honda continue to use Toro Rosso as guinea pigs for their 2019 relationship with Red Bull.

Verstappen says he is excited to work with Honda next year but will put the Renault engine through its paces at COTA from 18th on the grid. The Dutchman fought from 16th on the grid to fourth last year - having third place taken from him for exceeding track limits in a last-lap overtake on Raikkonen.

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