US GP: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel set for penalty, pitlane start

Vettel has known since his problems in Singapore GP practice last month that he would have to exceed the allocation of five Renault power units for the year and consequently start from the back for a race.

Red Bull was able to use up mileage on older components and choose when to take the sixth engine and penalty, with this weekend's Austin race set to be its choice.

Because it will change all the elements that make up the power unit, Vettel will start from the pitlane rather than taking a smaller grid drop.

"As far as I know, the plan is to use the opportunity to change, to have a sixth component of all the various components," said Vettel.

"Obviously for that as far as the regulations are concerned we have to start from the pitlane."

The German said it would be logical for Red Bull to spend all its weekend on race preparations.

"For the weekend, our plan could be a little bit different in terms of how we approach practice and qualifying in particular," said Vettel.

"Once you have to start from the pitlane your focus is not on qualifying because no matter what you do in qualifying it doesn't matter because you still have to start from the pitlane.

"So that's why in practice, largely, we will try to focus on the race."

Asked if he felt the prospect of him not running in qualifying would be bad for the fans at Austin, Vettel replied: "I didn't make the rules. When you have to start form the pitlane, no matter what you do in qualifying, it doesn't change anything.

"It's a rule that is the same for everyone. But for the people come to watch the cars, to watch qualifying, it's a very bad rule."