Formula One news

McLaren accepts grid penalty

Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix from eighth and ninth position respectively after both drivers were given a five grid position penalty. The McLaren team has said in a statement that they accept the stewards' decision but also stated that its drivers did not block the other drivers deliberately.

The FIA Stewards decided on Saturday that Kovalainen impeded Heidfeld and Alonso and Hamilton, just Heidfeld on his flying lap, due to the fact that they were travelling at a very slow speed. This was seen as a breach of Article 31.7 of the 2008 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.

Commenting on the decision McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh said: "We accept the stewards' decision, but would like to add that neither Lewis nor Heikki impeded any of their competitors deliberately. It was an unfortunate incident - nothing more, nothing less. We look forward to tomorrow's race."

Heidfeld being blocked by both McLaren drivers;

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