Vergne penalised for blocking

Editor 06 Oct 2012 9:19 AM

Jean-Eric Vergne has been slapped with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Bruno Senna during qualifying at Suzuka….

Jean-Eric Vergne has been slapped with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Bruno Senna during qualifying at Suzuka.

The Williams driver was left fuming after he was blocked by Vergne during the first of the three segments, which resulted in him failing to make it through to the next.

And although Vergne reckons he did everything he could to get out of the Brazilian’s way, the stewards didn’t see it the same way and handed him a three-place penalty.

“I was catching Glock on my flying lap and I had to slow because of that,” insisted the Frenchman.

“I saw Bruno was coming very quickly and unfortunately he caught me at the chicane where there is not much room. But I knew I had to let him past and moved as much to the outside as I could, even though I knew I would not be in the best position to come out of the corner.

“After that, he slowed a lot and I had to pass him again on the straight, otherwise I would not have set a proper time.”

Vergne qualified 17th quickest and should start 19th when all the penalties are applied.