Kovalainen issued 5-place grid penalty for Malaysia

After retiring due to steering issues during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Heikki Kovalainen was upbeat as the Caterham showed decent pace throughout the early stages of the race. However, Heikki Kovalainen has received a 5-place grid penalty for next weekends Malaysian Grand Prix.

The FIA have found the Finnish driver in breach of Article 40.8 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which stipulates that no driver may overtake another car on the track, including the safety car, until he passes the first safety car line.

Heikki Kovalainen passed two cars as he entered the pits during the Safety Car period during the race, as the field were running exceedingly slow as a pick-up truck went out to meet his team-mate who had stopped on the start-finish straight.

This will mean Heikki Kovalainen may well start the Malaysian Grand Prix from the back of the grid, unless he can have a highly competitive qualifying session next weekend.

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