OCTOBER 3, 2009

Stewards penalise Button, Barrichello, Alonso, Sutil and Buemi

The stewards at Suzuka have issued a decision to penalise a number of drivers following qualifying for the Japanese GP.

The stewards at Suzuka have issued a decision to penalise a number of drivers following qualifying for the Japanese GP.

Brawn GP's Jenson Button, his team mate Rubens Barrichello, Renault driver Fernando Alonso and Force India's Adrian Sutil were judged to have not lifted off the throttle in the yellow flag area of the track following Sebastien Buemi's crash in Q2 during the qualifying session. They all received grid penalties and will drop five places on the grid.

Also, Buemi was reprimanded for continuing to drive his damaged car back to the pits, impeding his fellow drivers in the process. The Toro Rosso driver also received a five place grid penalty.

The FIA will issue a grid in the morning, but adding to the confusion Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren and Vitantonio Liuzzi in the Force India will drop five places for making gearbox changes, and we are still awaiting news if Timo Glock will start the race in his Toyota.