Malaysian GP Qualifying Update

[MikeLane]

Malaysian GP Qualifying Update

McLaren Penalised.

As I observed in my qualifying report, drivers were slowing down at the closing stages of the last qualifying session (Q3) whilst others were completing their flying laps.

Alonso and Heidfeld complained to the Stewards that their lap had been compromised.

Heidfeld complained that the two McLarens were cruising on the racing line and cost him valuable time.

The Stewards agreed and penalised the two McLaren drivers by demoting them five places for Sunday's race. They will now start 8th and 9th.

Kazuki Nakajima(Williams) will also be demoted 10 places for his 'avoidable' accident last weekend in Melbourne with Robert Kubica(BMW Sauber). He will therefore start from the back of the grid.

The incident with the McLaren drivers was waiting to happen, with the new strategy where drivers do not get fuel credits for fuel used in the third qualifying session.

It will be interesting to see how the FIA regulate this in the future. For sure there needs to be clarity for the drivers from now on.

The provisional grid for tomorrow is now:-

Massa, Ferrari.
Raikkonen, Ferrari.
Trulli, Toyota.
Kubica, BMW Sauber.
Heidfeld, BMW Sauber.
Webber, Red Bull.
Alonso, Renault.
Kovalainen, McLaren.
Hamilton, McLaren.
Glock, Toyota.

Mike Lane - F1 Correspondent