In an unusual move, Charles Pic has been handed a drive through in advance of tomorrow's Japanese Grand Prix.

The Frenchman left the pit lane during Q1 while the red light was displayed at the pit exit, which is not only a breach of Article 31.3 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, but is the second consecutive event at which he has driven through a red light.

As a result, the Suzuka stewards have handed him a drive-through penalty in accordance with Article 16.3(a) which must be served during the first 5 laps of the race.

While Adrian Sutil drops 5-grid places after his team was forced to change his gearbox following his crash in FP3, there was a reprimand for Nico Rosberg and a hefty fine for Sauber.

Rosberg was adjudged as having slowed significantly between turns 14 and 15, thereby impeding Pic, the Mercedes driver slowing to less than 90 km/h while the Caterham driver was closing at full speed on the straight.

Handing Rosberg his reprimand, the stewards ruled that the speed differential was approximately 200 km/h at the point where Pic needed to decide on which side to pass. Rosberg conceded that he should have more clearly indicated on which side the Frenchman could pass, by moving to one side.

The Hulkenberg incident was a little more complicated in that the German appeared to impede Max Chilton at the exit to turn 9 during FP3. Sauber advised Hulkenberg that Chilton was on a 'slow down' lap.

Hulkenberg was preparing for a fast lap when Chilton realised the Sauber was immediately behind him and tried his best to give the German the apex.

While Marussia did not think the incident amounted to illegitimately impeding, the stewards determined Sauber to be responsible for the incident, which was potentially dangerous, by issuing an incorrect message. As a result the Swiss outfit was fined 20,000 euros.

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