Massa and Gutierrez receive post-qualifying penalties for Barcelona grid positions
Felipe Massa was sixth fastest in the final Formula One qualifying segment but he will now start the Spanish GP from ninth. Esteban Gutierrez lost three positions.
Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138
XPB Images
The FIA stewards penalized both Felipe Massa and Esteban Gutierrez after they reviewed the tapes of Saturday's qualifying. The two drivers lost their grid positions due impeding the progress another Formula One driver.
Ferrari driver Massa was cited for blocking Red Bull-Renault racer Mark Webber. The Australian dropped three grid slots; from 6th to 9th. While the Brazilan remained in the top ten, he will have his work cut out for him in the early stages of the race. Of course pit stop strategy would still leave him as a contender.
No comment has been made by Ferrari or Massa.
Rookie driver Gutierrez was cited for hindering the progress of Kimi Raikkonen during Q1. The Mexican driver for the Sauber team also moved down the starting grid from 16th to 19th for the Spanish Grand Prix on Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
Nico Rosberg earned the pole in Barcelona, and his teammate secured the front row for the Mercedes team. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will start third, and alongside the Red Bull driver will be Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen placed fifth in the final qualifying segment.
Benefiting from Massa's penalty was Lotus' driver Romain Grosjean, Webber, and Sergio Perez.
Due to Gutierrez's lost of positions on the grid, the trio who gained were his former GP2 rivals: Valtteri Bottas, Pastor Maldonado and Giedo van der Garde.
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