Bottas handed three-place grid penalty for impeding

Williams' Valterri Bottas has been given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo during the Q2 part of qualifying in Malaysia.

After speaking to both drivers, the stewards in Sepang judged that the Finn did not pay attention to Ricciardo's approaching car and continued to impede the Australian through Turns 14 and 15.

The penalty means that Bottas will now line up on 18th on the grid, with Lotus pair Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado, and Sauber’s Adrian Sutil each gaining one spot as a result. Bottas also received two penalty points on his license for the incident.

The stewards also investigated the Q2 collision between Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat, but judged that no further action was required.

Alonso’s car was damaged in the Turn 9 clash, which led to a short red-flag period to clear debris from the track. The Spaniard was able to return to the track, however, and ended up fourth overall, with Kvyat securing 11th.