Maldonado receives an additional 5-place penalty
Pastor Maldonado set the 9th fastest time in the qualifying session this afternoon in Monaco, but the Williams driver will ultimately start from the 24th position due to two penalties.
Pastor Maldonado was penalized with a 10-place grid penalty late in the morning following a collision with Sergio Pérez during the third practice session. FIA stewards determined that the Williams driver caused an avoidable accident and thus decided to penalize him.
The Venezuelan driver didn’t stop there because he had an accident right after this incident, heavily damaging his car. The Grove team mechanics managed to repair it in time, allowing him to secure the 9th fastest time in the qualifying session.
But an investigation after the qualifications revealed a problem with the gearbox of Maldonado’s FW34, and the Williams team had to change it. Therefore, Maldonado receives a 5-place grid penalty due to this gearbox change. He will start in 24th position, and last, in tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix.
