The FIA has opted not to allow Hispania to race on Sunday at the Australian Grand Prix after they failed to qualify within the 107% regulation, re-introduced this season.
Article 36.2 of the FIA sporting regulations specifies that any driver whose best qualifying lap exceeds 107% of the fastest time set during that session will not be allowed to take part in the race.
However, the FIA can allow a team, under exceptional circumstances, to compete in the race if they set a suitable lap time in a free practice session.
Hispania failed to set more than one timed lap each during free practice, which is why the team has been banned from competing.
The quickest Q1 time came from Sebastian Vettel, a 1:25.296, which means all the cars must qualify within 107% or 1:31.266.
Vitantonio Liuzzi’s time was 1:32.978, Narain Karthikeyan’s a 1:34.293, well above the cut-off limit.
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