GP2 trio penalized for impeding

Three drivers have been given three-place grid penalties for impeding in qualifying for the first GP2 race at Hockenheim on Saturday.

Takuya Izawa, Rio Haryanto and Johnny Cecotto Jr. have all been penalised for their transgressions, two of which cost Ferrari junior Raffaele Marciello his shot at repeating his Silverstone pole for the series' 200th race.

ART's Izawa was found guilty by stewards of impeding Racing Engineering's Marciello at Turn 13, and his three-place penalty is added to the five that the Japanese driver already carried over from Silverstone Sprint Race. Marciello had earlier been impeded by Rio Haryanto at Turn 13, for which the Caterham driver has been given a three-place penalty.

Following both of these unconnected incidents, Marciello said: "I am very unhappy because I could have finished in a top three position, but traffic kept me from doing so. This is no excuse, but it was avoidable by other drivers."

Cecotto was also found guilty of impeding Haryanto at Turn 13, and has also been given a three-place grid penalty as well. Cecotto will now start from P10, Izawa from P23 and Haryanto from P25. Marciello will now start seventh, moving up as Cecotto moves back.