Maldonado penalised

26/05/2012

Spanish Grand Prix hero Pastor Maldonado has been slapped with a ten place grid penalty after an incident in the final practice session in Monaco.

The Venezuelan was involved in an incident with Sauber's Sergio Perez at Portier, the corner before the Tunnel heading on to the harbour front. Stewards deemed the Williams driver guilty of causing a collision, stopping short of calling it deliberate.

It's not the first time the Williams driver has been involved in such an incident, having come together with Lewis Hamilton in Belgium last year.

Having been quick throughout practice the penalty comes as a blow to the team, doubly so given Maldonado clouted the barrier at Casino Square, knocking off the front left corner of his car. His car repaired Maldonado is expected to take part in qualifying.

The stewards were also kept busy by Nico Hulkenberg, the Force India driver given a reprimand for holding up Perez at Rascasse as the Sauber driver was on a flying lap.