Mark Webber will start the Chinese Grand Prix from 22nd after failing to provide the necessary one litre fuel sample after qualifying.
The Red Bull driver pulled off the circuit during Q2 with a fuel pressure problem – an indicator that the car hasn’t got sufficient fuel.
He managed to put in a time which put him 14th, but the stewards have taken the decision to demote him to last.
“The team admitted it had not put sufficient fuel in the car. As specified in the technical delegate’s report (Document 21), only 150ml of fuel was on board, which was insufficient to provide the one-litre sample and drive the car back to the pits under its own power.”
The regulations stipulate that a car must provide a fuel sample of one litre. In the event it fails to return to the pits, it must provide the same sample, plus the amount of fuel needed to return following Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton’s problems in 2012.
Team principl Christian Horner explained the reason behind the insufficient fuel in Webber’s car.
“This was due to an error with the fuel bowser that meant it under-delivered 3kg of fuel.”
