Michael Schumacher handed a 10-place grid penalty for Japanese GP

Michael Schumacher has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix after smashing into the back of Jean-Eric Vergne in today's race in Singapore.

Seven-times world champion Schumacher admitted liability for the accident that occurred just after the midway point of the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

It followed the restart after a safety car period for HRT's Narain Karthikeyan hitting a barrier across Anderson Bridge.

In what was a repeat of two previous incidents - one at this track last year and one earlier this season when Schumacher ran into the rear of Williams' Bruno Senna in Barcelona - the stewards decided to heavily penalise the 43-year-old for the next race in Japan.