FE: Fire extinguisher fault costs Buemi P2 start

Formula E champion Sebastien Buemi has lost his front-row start for Saturday's Marrakech ePrix. Buemi has been handed a five-place grid penalty, dropping him to seventh, and a €2500 fine.

A post-session check revealed the fire extinguisher on his Renault e.dams Z.E.16 was under the 3.25kg minimum weight, breaching Article 15.4 of the technical regulations. The stewards deemed it a "serious safety issue" while Renault suspects a leak caused the device to empty.

"The rule is the rule and the fire extinguisher basically emptied itself," said Buemi. "It's not really the case of being lighter, I was in the right weight limit, but the car was not safe anymore.

"It's a shame but it's not the end of the world."

DS Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird has been promoted to the front row, while Nelson Piquet Jr. will now start third and Jean-Eric Vergne fourth.

Originally on Autosport.com