Kobayashi, Vergne, and Maldonado penalized
Kamui Kobayashi, Jean-Eric Vergne, and Pastor Maldonado were penalized by the race stewards following their incidents this afternoon during the European Grand Prix.
While overtaking Heikki Kovalainen, Jean-Eric Vergne touched the Finnish driver’s Caterham CT01, damaging it and also damaging the suspension of his Toro Rosso. The French driver returned to the pits to retire as the damage could not be repaired.
The Toro Rosso driver stated at the end of the race that, for him, the incident was a racing incident, but the stewards did not share his opinion. Vergne received a 10-place grid penalty for the next Grand Prix, which will take place at Silverstone in two weeks. He was also fined 25,000 euros.
Vergne was not the only one penalized after the European Grand Prix; Kamui Kobayashi was deemed responsible for the collision he had with Felipe Massa, and the Sauber driver was penalized by the FIA stewards. The Japanese driver received a 5-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix for causing an avoidable accident.
Pastor Maldonado was also penalized by the stewards for his collision with Lewis Hamilton. The Venezuelan driver received a 20-second penalty, causing him to lose the point for 10th place. He ultimately finishes in 12th place. Not all is lost for Williams, as it’s Bruno Senna who inherits the 10th place and the accompanying point.
