But Silverstone stewards clear Venezuelan of blocking Sergio Perez
Saturday 5 July 2014 18:49, UK
Pastor Maldonado has been sent to the back of the grid for Sunday’s British Grand Prix after his Lotus was found not to have enough fuel to provide a sample following qualifying.
The Venezuelan had qualified in 15th place, but failed to make it back to the pits following Q2 after the Enstone team ordered him to switch the car off due to a fuel pressure problem.
In post-qualifying scrutineering Maldonado’s E22 was found to be in breach of Article 6.6.2 of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations which requires each car to be able to provide one litre of fuel as a sample at any point during an event.
Maldonado will be allowed to start ahead of the Caterham’s of Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson, however, as they failed to set a time within 107% of the quickest Q1 time.
The stewards’ decision in full:
Fact - Insufficient amount of fuel to provide a sample
Offence - Breach of Article 6.6.2 of Technical Regs
Decision - Excluded from qualifying
Reason - There was an insufficient amount of fuel to provide a 1.0 ltr fuel sample and therefore this is in breach of Article 6.6.2 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations. The competitor is, however, allowed to start the race from the back of the grid in front of any cars that failed to set a time within 107% of the fastest time in Q1.
On a more positive note for the 29-year-old, the stewards decided he had not blocked Sergio Perez during qualifying following a separate investigation.
“Having heard from the drivers concerned and having reviewed the video, and in view of the conditions, the Stewards determined that the driver of car 13 took all reasonable action,” the official decision read.
