D’Ambrosio to start despite missing 107pc mark

Jerome d’Ambrosio will start Sunday’s Canadian grand prix despite failing to qualify.

The Belgian rookie was the only driver in the field to fail to achieve a Q1 lap time within 107 per cent of the fastest runner.

But it emerged late on Saturday afternoon that Virgin Racing argued to the stewards that d’Ambrosio, 25, should be allowed to start the race because he had to tackle the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with a brand new chassis.

He damaged his original car in a Friday practice crash at turn 4.

"The FIA have allowed Jerome to race tomorrow, having considered the fact that he had to start with a new chassis this morning," confirmed the team.