F1: Penalties Mix Up Suzuka Grid

Formula 1

F1: Penalties Mix Up Suzuka Grid

Five drivers received five-place grid demotions after qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix....

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted October 03, 2009 Suzuka (JPN)

Five drivers received five-place grid demotions after qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.(Photo: LAT Photographic)

The grid for the Japanese GP has been dramatically mixed up by a series of penalties imposed by the stewards.

After Sebastien Buemi’s crash in Q2 Adrian Sutil (who qualified 4th), Rubens Barrichello (5th), Jenson Button (7th) and Fernando Alonso all received five-place penalties for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags.

In addition Buemi was then penalized five places for impeding other drivers by driving his damaged car back to the pits.

Just to complicate matters further Heikki Kovalainen (9th) will have to undergo a gearbox change after his own accident, and he two will get a five-place penalty.

After a problem in the morning Tonio Liuzzi (19th) had a gearbox change and takes a five-place penalty.

Furthermore, Timo Glock (14th) has changed chassis after his heavy crash, and if he is allowed to start, it will have to be from the pit lane.

Mark Webber, who has also changed chassis after a practice crash and did not participate in qualifying, will join Glock there.

UPDATED PROVISIONAL STARTING GRID

Editors note: Any further changes to the provisional grid will be published by the FIA on Sunday morning.

1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2. Jarno Trulli, Toyota
3. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
4. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
6. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren
7. Nico Rosberg, Williams
8. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber
9. Adrian Sutil, Force India
10. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP
11. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso
12. Jenson Button, Brawn GP
13. Giancarlo Fisichella, Ferrari
14. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso
15. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams
16. Romain Grosjean, Renault
17. Fernando Alonso, Renault
18. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India
19. Timo Glock, Toyota, n/a
20. Mark Webber, Red Bull, n/a

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Adam Cooper

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