Hamilton penalised in qualifying

1:07pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen will drop five grid places for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix after the duo were found guilty of impeding Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso.

The incident occurred when both drivers slowed down after crossing the line with seconds left of qualifying. By remaining on the racing line, they were adjudged to have impeded Heidfeld and Alonso, who were starting their final flying laps.

Hamilton will now begin tomorrow's 56-lap race from ninth place, while Kovalainen will start in eighth after the pair initially qualified fourth and third respectively.