Sebastian Vettel loses Mexican GP F1 podium with 10-second penalty

The German was promoted to third moments after the chequered flag when stewards penalised Max Verstappen for going off track defending from Vettel in the closing stages.

But Vettel and Ricciardo were called to the stewards to give their view of the tussle at Turn 4, which resulted the pair banging wheels and Vettel retaining the position as Ricciardo attacked on the inside.

The stewards deemed Vettel made an "abnormal change of direction" that was "potentially dangerous" and handed the time penalty as well as two points on his licence.

As a result, Ricciardo was promoted to third place in the revised classification, with Verstappen moving up to fourth and Vettel slotting into fifth.

It comes after the FIA issued a clampdown on drivers moving under braking ahead of the United States Grand Prix, a change that was referenced in the stewards' statement.

"Notwithstanding the F1 Commission directive to "let the drivers race" we note the concern that has been expressed about manoeuvres involving a change of direction under braking as expressed at the drivers briefing at the US Grand Prix and in the race director's notes from the US Grand Prix and this event," it read.

"The telemetry and video evidence shows that the driver of car 5 did change direction under braking.

"Article 27.5 and the race director's notes have essentially three criteria that determine a breach: driving in a manner potentially dangerous, an abnormal change of direction and another driver having to take evasive action.

"The video footage, including the close circuit footage, the broadcast vision, both drivers' on board cameras plus the telemetry show that there was an abnormal change of direction by car 5 and this was considered to be potentially dangerous in view of the proximity of the wheels of each car.

"The video evidence clearly shows that car 3 had to take evasive action as a result.

"Accordingly as all three criteria have been met, the driver of car 5 is guilty of a breach of article 27.5."

Vettel now has six points on his superlicence, with any driver who accrues 12 over a rolling 12-month period receiving a one-race ban.