Formula One news

Ecclestone against Vettel penalty

Bernie Ecclestone has explained how he disagrees with the grid penalty imposed upon Sebastian Vettel heading into the Malaysian Grand Prix. The German was handed with a 10-place demotion for his crash with Robert Kubica in Melbourne, meaning that his superb third place in qualifying translated to thirteenth on the grid.

"It was wrong," the commercial rights holder told Germany's Auto Motor and Sport. "The poor guy is punished for an accident, and loses third place. If the rule is that you get punished for a collision with another driver, we will have no more fights soon - we want to see more wheel-to-wheel duels, not less."

Ecclestone is keen to promote overtaking and good racing, with the 'wins for title' system - currently scheduled by the FIA for 2010 - having been spawned by the Englishman. If used, Formula One would see its winningest driver become World Champion.

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