Vettel risks further punishment for role in clash with Hamilton in Baku as FIA further investigate the incident

Sebastian Vettel could face further punishment for driving into Lewis Hamilton at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the FIA confirmed it has launched a formal investigation.

Vettel and Hamilton’s fight for the Formula One title had been contested in good spirits in the opening seven races, but the blue touch paper was lit in Baku.

The German believed he was brake-tested by Hamilton at the second safety car restart, and the Ferrari driver reacted by pulling up alongside the Briton and swerving into the side of his Mercedes.

A 10-second stop-and-go penalty was handed to Vettel, and analysis of Hamilton’s telemetry by the race stewards concluded no brake testing had taken place.

And Vettel’s actions may yet seem him penalised further, F1’s governing body saying in a statement: “Following the recent incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in which Car 5 (Sebastian Vettel) was involved in a collision with Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), on Monday 3rd July, the FIA will further examine the causes on the incident in order to evaluate whether further action is necessary.

“A statement regarding the outcome of this process will be made available before the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.”