Zoom Another farcical decision from F1 stewards

Sebastien Bourdais drove a great race to take the chequered flag in sixth position, 34 seconds behind race winner Fernando Alonso.

However, the AFP news agency reported soon after the race that the French Toro Rosso driver has been handed a 25 second penalty dropping him down to tenth position and out of the points.

Bourdais was penalised by the race stewards for an incident late in the 67-lap Japanese Grand Prix when he defended his position from Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. Exiting the pits on lap 50, Bourdais kept to the right hand side of the circuit heading to turn one while Felipe Massa moved to the left to try and pass around the outside.

Massa turned into the corner and contact was inevitable. It is however stunning that the stewards penalised Bourdais as he was simply defending his position and ahead of the Ferrari driver. As McLaren Mercedes determined last month in Paris, Toro Rosso cannot appeal a post-race time penalty....

Sebastian Vettel is promoted to sixth position ahead of Felipe Massa who picks up an additional point with Bourdais’ 25 second penalty. Mark Webber is promoted to eighth ahead of Nick Heidfeld and the ever-unfortunate Bourdais.

Earl ALEXANDER
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