Japanese GP Qualifying: Finalised Grand Prix Grid


Now starts from 7th
By Andrew Hooper
October 4 2009

After several penalties were handed out after qualifying for the 2009 Japanes e GP a provisional grid was released but the FIA had to sort out the application of these penalties. The result is that the grid for the Japanese GP would change with AT&T Williams driver Nico Rosberg now starting from seventh rather than the original sixth. For team-mate Kazuki Nakajima he would start from fifteenth.

 
 Finalised Japanese GP Grid
 

As a result of a yellow flag period during qualifying for the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix several drivers would received five place grid penalties for their failure to sufficiently slow down at the point where the yellow flag was shown. Those given the penalty were Button, Barrichello, Alonso,  and Sutil.

A provisional grid was released but the FIA had to work out the application of the numerous penalties that were handed out. The result is that the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix would be as shown below.

For the AT&T Williams team the new grid shows Nico Rosberg starting from seventh rather than the original sixth. For team-mate Kazuki Nakajima he would start from fifteenth as was originally listed so the applications of the penalties did not impact on him. Both Williams drivers are carrying heavy fuel loads in particular Nico Rosberg compared to those around him.

Other drivers who had incurred penalties due to other issues were Kovalainen for a gearbox change. He was joined by Liuzzi who also had to have a gearbox change. Buemi was given a five grid place penalty for his failure to stop after his accident. The Torro Rosso driver had continued on down the track after he had crashed his car heavily into the barrier.
  

Pos  Driver       Team
 1.  Vettel       Red Bull-Renault       658.5
 2.  Trulli       Toyota                 655.5
 3.  Hamilton     McLaren-Mercedes       656.0
 4.  Heidfeld     BMW-Sauber             660.0
 5.  Raikkonen    Ferrari                661.0
 6.  Barrichello  Brawn-Mercedes         660.5 *
 7.  Rosberg      Williams-Toyota        684.5
 8.  Sutil        Force India-Mercedes   650.0 *
 9.  Kubica       BMW-Sauber             686.0
10.  Button       Brawn-Mercedes         658.5 *
11.  Kovalainen   McLaren-Mercedes       675.0 **
12.  Alguersuari  Toro Rosso-Ferrari     682.5
13.  Buemi        Toro Rosso-Ferrari     665.4 *
14.  Fisichella   Ferrari                661.5
15.  Nakajima     Williams-Toyota        695.7
16.  Alonso       Renault                689.5 *
17.  Grosjean     Renault                691.8
18.  Liuzzi       Force India-Mercedes   682.5 **
19.  Webber       Red Bull-Renault       -     ***
20.  Glock        Toyota                 -     ****

*    Five-place grid penalty
**   Five-place grid penalty for changing gearbox
***  New chassis so will start from the pitlane
**** Will not start due to injury