Alaniz handed 40 second time penalty and 10 place grid drop

Gerard Alaniz has been given a forty second time penalty and a ten place grid drop following the incidents at the Australian Grand Prix.

---

On the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix, Gerard Alaniz made contact with Jonah Phipps resulting in a multi car pile up. Due to what is believed an avoidable incidents, the stewards have handed the Force Australia driver a ten place grid drop for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Half through the race Alaniz caused havoc for the leaders, holding up Simon and Beckenbauer for over half a lap. While Beckenbauer passed Alaniz, Simon was very unlucky to launch into the back of the Force Australia. After re-watching the video, the stewards have agreed that Gerard Alaniz will be handed a forty second time penalty that will be added to his race result next week at Sepang.

"We did see some bizarre choices of driving from Gerard Alaniz today. The first corner incident we could see he went in too deep and ultimately made contact with Jonah Phipps. As for the second incident, while watching the replay we could see sparks flying from the left rear will of Alaniz car. We believe that this was a racing incident; though because of his consistent blocking and the accident with Simon itself; Gerard Alaniz will have forty seconds added to his race time at round two", explained Ian Grapevine - head of the race stewards.