Sebastian Vettel has confirmed that he will probably not take part in qualifying for this weekend's US GP, the latest and most significant victim of the new power unit rules.

With the Austin grid already depleted by the absence of Caterham and Austin, the reigning world champion and 2013 United States Grand Prix winner, is almost certain to miss Saturday's qualifying session as wherever he qualifies he would be forced to start from the pitlane should his team opt to use his sixth power unit of the season.

"You can talk about obligations but in the end we have to manage the situation with the engines," he said ahead of the Austin weekend, according to the Guardian. "The rules are the same for everyone.

"Obviously it was our fault to be very greedy at the beginning of the season in terms of having issues and with reliability, not taking the engines to the end of their lives," he admitted. "The situation is what it is. I'd love to change it, to qualify in the normal way and use every practice session to the maximum.

"We have to get an extra power unit at some stage this season and it's very likely it will be for this event. In practice we'll definitely run to try to maximise the track time. But the focus will be more on the race because maybe qualifying for us is not that important if we have to start from the pit lane due to the regulations. I didn't make them but equally everyone has to respect them and they are pretty clear.

"Once you decide to pull the joker, you have to start from the pit lane, even if you qualify on pole. So instead of burning mileage in qualifying, which you would regret later on in Brazil or Abu Dhabi where you might not see the finish line, you skip it."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Darvi, 30/10/2014 14:10

"What a stupid situation, a sure sign that F1 has lost its way. The crazy thing is, does the engine limit even save money? Manufacturers now have to design the engines to be more robust and then test them to simulate 5 race weekends...... that is never going to be cheap. Another stupid rule created by rulemakers that don't have a long-term strategy or the foresight and vision to create a sensible rule set."

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2. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 30/10/2014 13:31

"The meltdown continues..................."

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3. Posted by my tyres are going off, 30/10/2014 9:31

"In "the good old days" you had different engines for qauli and the race and threw them away at the end of the weekend. now F1 wants to give a greener image and this rule is the result. I don't know what you do to enforce engine lifespan. Dock points and you peanlise the lower teams that may score only a few. Impose a fine and the big boys pay it out of petty cash. But a penalty for not completing the whole race weekend without a note from your mum might work. Say 10% of prize money per weekend, that might encourage Red Bull to take to the track."

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4. Posted by stackvideo, 30/10/2014 9:02

"FIA crap"

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5. Posted by Paul C, 30/10/2014 4:51

"Five engines a season? Some NASCAR teams go through five engines in five or less races. Limiting components is another aspect of the economy/endurance run character of F1 in 2014."

Vettel confirms he will probably sit-out qualifying

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