Hamilton take grid penalty for gearbox change

French news agency AFP has confirmed that defending champion and Australian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton is to take a five position grid penalty into Sunday’s first race of the season.

Hamilton made it into the second round of qualifying this afternoon in Melbourne but a problem with fourth gear prevented the British racer taking any further part in proceedings.

Hamilton, 15th fastest on the day, will therefore drop to the rear of the field following a gearbox change on the MP4-24, and subsequent grid position penalty.

The team therefore has Heikki Kovalainen starting in 14th position while Sebastien Buemi, Nelson Piquet, Giancarlo Fisichella, Adrian Sutil and Sebastien Bourdais are all promoted up one position at Hamilton’s expense.