The McLaren drivers penalized by 5 positions!

The McLaren Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, have both been penalized five positions on the starting grid for impeding other drivers during qualifying.

The McLaren drivers had just finished their qualifying laps when they slowed down on the track to complete their lap and return to the pits.

During the same time, some drivers were finishing their fast lap and therefore had to pass through the timing line again.

This was the case for Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso, who later said they were hindered by the two drivers from the British team and who later filed a complaint with the FIA.

The track stewards thoroughly reviewed the case and ultimately declared the two drivers in violation of the regulations for unsportsmanlike behavior. They will therefore be penalized by 5 positions, which places both of them behind Fernando Alonso in 8th and 9th position. See the new starting grid for the Malaysian GP

A spokesperson for McLaren confirmed the sanctions and also that the team would not appeal the decision.

Kubica, for his part, provided more details on the situation by admitting that his BMW teammate, Nick Heidfeld, was less hindered than Renault driver Fernando Alonso: « I clearly saw the situation from where I was, and Alonso was really obstructed, unable to take the right line because of Kovalainen. Heidfeld, I think, was luckier, as he just had to brake off the racing line. »

« Alonso braked in the corner, whereas normally we don’t have to do that and it was dangerous there! »

See the new starting grid of the Malaysian GP