Sauber´s Kamui Kobayashi has been given a five-grid penalty for the British Grand Prix in two weeks, for his involvement in the incident with Felipe Massa, during the European Grand Prix in Valencia.
The Japanese driver were unable to finish the race, but during the action-packed race in the Valencian harbour, he made contact with other drivers twice. Once with Bruno Senna, for which the latter got the blame, and then the incident with Felipe Massa. As the two drivers came over the bridge of the harbour, Kobayashi hit the side of Massa´s Ferrari and the stewards have decided to penalize Kobayashi with five places for the British Grand Prix.
“What a race today, but I am very disappointed,” Kobayashi said after the race.
I definitely had a good start from seventh. I made up two positions straight away and then overtook Pastor Maldonado on Lap 1. I was fourth and it looked promising.
“At my first pit-stop, after 14 laps, we had a problem with the front-left wheel. After that I was 11th and still had a good chance. On Lap 20 I was following Kimi Räikkönen, who was overtaking Bruno Senna, and then was on the inside next to Senna. I had the wall (on my right) and nowhere to go when we touched. I had to pit for a nose change.
“Later, when the race was restarted after the Safety Car period, I was fighting with Felipe Massa for position. Our cars touched and this time the damage was too bad to continue.”
