• European Grand Prix
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Maldonado hit with penalty for Hamilton clash

ESPN Staff
June 24, 2012 « Rosberg praises strategic call | Ferrari still needs to improve - Alonso »
Pastor Maldonado has been penalised after a collision which took Lewis Hamilton out of the race © Sutton Images
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Pastor Maldonado has been handed a retrospective drive-through penalty for causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton in the European Grand Prix.

On the penultimate lap, Maldonado tried to pass Hamilton around the outside of turn 12 and on rejoining at turn 13 punted Hamilton in to the wall and out of the race. Hamilton refused to blame Maldonado for the incident after the race, but Maldonado claimed he had not been left enough room by the McLaren.

"He tried to put me out of the track and he didn't leave any room for us to do the corner side-by-side," Maldonado said. "I jumped over the kerb and couldn't avoid the accident."

The stewards, however, disagreed with Maldonado's view and have handed him a retrospective drive-through penalty, which equates to 20 seconds being added to his finishing time. The penalty - given for "failing to rejoin the track in a safe manner" - relegates him to 12th position, promoting his Williams team-mate Bruno Senna in to the final points position in 10th.

Jean-Eric Vergne was also handed a post-race penalty for his collision with Heikki Kovalainen. Vergne appeared to move across on the Caterham after passing using DRS, and he has been given a 10-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix as well as a €25,000 fine.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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