Vettel engine penalty boosts Hamilton's title hopes

Formula One - F1 - United States Grand Prix 2015 - Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, United States of America - 22/10/15 Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton ahead of the United States Grand Prix Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Hoch Zwei Livepic

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton's hopes of winning his third Formula One world championship at the U.S. Grand Prix were boosted on Thursday when closest rival Sebastian Vettel said he would have a 10 place penalty on the starting grid.

Vettel's Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen will take a similar penalty, which will further reduce the team's chances of beating Hamilton's Mercedes unless the weather, which is expected to be wet, intervenes.