Johnny Cecotto and Sam Bird have both been handed penalties after being involved in an incident during today’s qualifying session at Sepang International Circuit.
It was found that between Turns 5 and 6, Cecotto was impeded by Bird during the Venezuelan’s fastest lap. As a reaction, the Arden driver deliberately forced the British driver off the track.
In consequence, the stewards have decided to issue Bird with a three place grid penalty while Cecotto has been excluded from the results of Qualifying as his reaction to being impeded by another driver were deemed unacceptable .
Bird will thus start from eighth place. Cecotto will start from the back of tomorrow’s Feature Race grid.