Perez handed gearbox grid penalty

Sergio Perez will drop five places on the grid for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix after the gearbox was changed on his Sauber following Saturday’s qualifying session.
Perez was unable to complete a timed lap during Q2 because of gearbox problems and thus qualified in 17th. After investigating the issue the team decided to replace the C31’s box. The ensuing penalty means the Mexican will line up in 22nd on the Melbourne grid.

Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen, Caterham’s Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov, and Virgin team mates Timo Glock and Charles Pic all benefit from Perez’s drop down the order.