Japanese Grand Prix: Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to avoid grid penalty

Sebastian Vettel hitched a lift with Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein after the collision with Lance Stroll

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel does not need a new gearbox so will avoid a grid penalty at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Vettel feared it had been damaged in the bizarre crash with Williams driver Lance Stroll in Malaysia on Sunday.

The device was inspected at Ferrari's factory in Italy and the team tweeted on Wednesday to say it was "available".

Had it required changing, Vettel would have faced a five-place grid penalty - a blow in his title fight with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

Vettel heads into the race at Suzuka this weekend 34 points behind Hamilton, with a maximum of 125 available over the remaining five grands prix.

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