Malaysian GP: Engine change for Maldonado

Williams F1 driver Pastor Maldonado has been forced to start the Malaysian Grand Prix with a new Renault engine. It was confirmed by the Williams team that the change was as a result of piston damage detected in his engine after qualifying.

Maldonado will not incur a grid penalty for the change as, under the regulations, each driver is allowed to use eight engines per season with the new unit being the second, so. Any engine removed at this late stage cannot be used again for qualifying or the race. Pastor will start Sunday's race from sixteenth, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas eighteenth.

But the problem is not too severe to prevent the engine being refitted for practice session use later in the season.

"After qualifying, some damage to the pistons was detected so we changed the engine as a precaution," a Williams spokesperson said.

"The engine will be used again in practice, as was the plan after this race anyway."