Kamui Kobayashi issued 5-place grid penalty for British GP

Kamui Kobayashi has been issued a 5-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix, after the Japanese driver collided with Felipe Massa during Sunday’s European Grand Prix. The incident occurred on lap 34, only moments after the safety car had returned to the pits following Vergne and Kovalainen’s incident.

The incident forced Kamui Kobayashi to retire from the race, whereas Felipe Massa was able to continue albeit at a disadvantage after being forced to pit with a puncture on his Ferrari. Kamui Kobayashi also collided with Bruno Senna earlier on in the race, which forced the Williams driver to spin, yet he miraculously avoided contact with the barriers.

“What a race today, however, I am very disappointed.” Commented Kamui Kobayashi, “On lap 20 I was following Kimi Räikkönen, who was overtaking Bruno Senna, and then was on the inside next to Senna. I had the wall and nowhere to go when we touched. I had to pit for a nose change. Later, when the race was restarted after the safety car period, I was fighting with Felipe Massa for position. Our cars touched and this time the damage was too bad to continue.”

This penalty means Kamui Kobayashi will only be able to qualify 6th at best for the British Grand Prix, a race which he has finished consistently in the points at for the last two seasons. In this highly competitive season, the Japanese driver has yet to step on the podium, unlike his team-mate Sergio Perez who has done so twice.

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