SPIELBERG, Austria — Sebastian Vettel has dropped to eleventh on the grid for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix after he was penalised by the stewards for blocking Fernando Alonso throughout qualifying.

Vettel, who certified eighth, was docked three grid positions and given a single penalty level on his superlicence after he blocked Alonso on the finish of the Alpine driver’s quickest lap in Q2.

Vettel, who drives for Aston Martin, was behind a queue of vehicles ready to start out a flying lap and ended up getting in Alonso’s means as he exited the ultimate nook (Flip 10).

The incident ruined any probability Alonso had of creating the highest 10 in qualifying, whereas Vettel made the reduce for Q3 because of a lap he had set earlier in Q2.

After reviewing the proof and talking to the drivers concerned, the stewards issued the next assertion relating to Vettel’s three-pace grid penalty.

“Alonso was on his quick lap simply earlier than the tip of Q2,” the assertion learn.

“When he approached the final two corners (9 and 10), there was nonetheless a queue of three vehicles getting ready for his or her remaining qualifying lap.

“Vettel was the final automotive on this line and impeded Alonso and, because of this, Alonso needed to abort his remaining qualifying lap.”

Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz, who have been in two of the vehicles forward of Vettel on observe on the finish of the lap, have been each investigated for driving unnecessarily slowly between Flip 9 and Flip 10, however the stewards decided neither driver was responsible for the scenario.

Chatting with media after the session, Vettel stated he was unfairly shuffled to the again of the queue of drivers wanting to start out a lap between Flip 8 and Flip 9, just for these vehicles to decelerate in entrance of him between Turns 9 and 10.

Vettel made reference to an settlement between the drivers and FIA race director Michael Masi that these wanting to start out a lap would decelerate to search out house between Flip 8 and Flip 9 however guarantee they have been at full velocity between Flip 9 and Flip 10.

“I believe from my facet, I did not do something mistaken,” Vettel stated. “I used to be the final one within the queue. However I believe the others mustn’t soar the queue within the place the place we agreed to decelerate to then decelerate after that. So I do not know in the event that they weren’t listening.

“We agreed that we decelerate between Flip 8 and Flip 9, which is what I did, however all people passes me and jumps the queue,” Vettel added. “After which all of them decelerate between 9 and 10 the place we agreed to not decelerate. So now the remainder of the story.”

“As quickly as I seemed within the mirror [in Turn 10], as a result of it isn’t a pleasant place to satisfy some visitors, and I noticed him [Alonso] coming, like half a second later, simply after I noticed him and sped up, I bought the radio name. So I attempted to keep away from him, and mainly cancelled my lap.”

Max Verstappen starts on pole with Lando Norris lining up on the entrance row for the primary time. Purple Bull teammate Sergio Perez begins on the second row alongside Lewis Hamilton.