After qualifying FIA investigates and result are Hamilton’s McLaren was found to not have had sufficient fuel on board to obey with the rules that demand a car returns to the pits under its own power following qualifying with enough petrol for a one-liter test to be provided to the F1 governing body FIA.
Effect means that Pastor Maldonado will start ahead of local boy Fernando Alonso for Sunday's race.
Autosport reports that - Following a meeting with the stewards at the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren was informed that the 'technical' problem that it suggested was the reason for Hamilton being told to stop was not enough grounds to justify its action.
McLaren explained that not enough fuel had been put into the car ahead of the final qualifying lap - which the FIA did not agree was enough reason for 'force majeure'
As a result, race stewards ruled that Hamilton be excluded from qualifying, but would be allowed to start from the back of the grid.
"The stewards received a report from the Race Director which stated that during post-qualifying scrutineering a sample of fuel was required from car 4, however, the car failed to return to the pits under its own power as required under Article 6.6.2 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations," said the stewards in a statement.
"The Stewards heard from the team representative Mr Sam Michael who stated that the car stopped on the circuit for reasons of force majeure. A team member had put an insufficient quantity of fuel into the car thereby resulting in the car having to be stopped on the circuit in order to be able to provide the required amount for sampling purposes.
"As the amount of fuel put into the car is under the complete control of the Competitor the Stewards cannot accept this as a case of force majeure.
"The Stewards determine that this is a breach of Article 6.6.2 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations and the Competitor is accordingly excluded from the results of the Qualifying Session. The Competitor is however allowed to start the race from the back of the grid."
Talking before being informed of the penalty, Hamilton reckoned that in the event of a penalty he could still deliver good race pace.
"Looking at our long runs, I think our long runs were not too bad," he said. "The option tyre was not spectacular with the set-up we had, but we have made some changes so it should be better in that sense. The long run on the prime was very good, but then again so was it with the guys just behind me. Overtaking here is very, very tough as it has showed in previous years, but we do have DRS.
"I would hope we can overtake but I would doubt it – but I would do everything I could to move forwards.
"Definitely the guy in front, the top two or three, generally have an easier job because they have a lot clearer air. But we will give it our all and we hope with improved pit stops as well we hope we can make steps forward."
Revised Spanish Grand Prix Race Grid
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