Hamilton inherits pole as Alonso and McLaren penalized

Alonso has been sensationally demoted to 6th on the grid after the stewards at the Hungarian GP meeting found that Fernando had impeded Lewis Hamilton during Q3 of yesterdays qualifying for todays race.

Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix from first on the grid after original polesitter, McLaren team mate Fernando Alonso, was deemed to have unnecessarily delayed the Englishman during qualifying - preventing Lewis from completing his final attempt at pole. McLaren were also punished for the incident and will not be eligible for constructors’ points in the race, though the team are to appeal this decision.

The stewards’ statement continued: “The actions of the team in the final minutes of Qualifying are considered prejudicial to the interests of the competition and to the interests of motor sport generally. The penalty to be applied is that such points (if any) in the 2007 Formula One Constructors Championship as accrue to the team as a result of their participation in the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix will be withdrawn.”

McLaren will now race under appeal, with any constructors’ points they score in Hungary remaining provisional until that appeal is heard at a later date. Alonso has no right of appeal over his penalty.

Going to make for an exciting race - with both Fernando and Felipe chasing through the pack!