Rubens Barrichello was called before the stewards after qualifying in Monaco, but it is not the Brazilian who will see their original grid positions altered by the time racing starts in the Principality.
Barrichello was flagged up on the time screens as being under investigation after the first phase of qualifying, with the stewards keen to determine whether or not he had held up fellow veteran
Giancarlo Fisichella during the Italian's flying laps.
However, while Fisichella clearly thought that he had been hampered, if not necessarily impeded, by the
Honda - "I got caught behind Barrichello just after the Swimming Pool as he was slowing down - it's very, very frustrating," the Italian claimed - the officials decided against punishing
Formula One's most experienced pilot, allowing him to retain the 15th position he 'earned' in phase two.
Ironically, therefore, Barrichello is set to move up the order, albeit by one place, after penalties were handed out elsewhere - including one for the luckless Fisichella, who celebrates his 200th grand prix start this weekend.
The Italian's qualifying runs were hampered by a mechanical issue that originated in morning practice and, midway through the session, his car developed a gearbox problem that forced him to sit out the rest of qualifying after completing just ten laps. When the
Force India team was forced to change troublesome 'box, Fisichella duly received a five place grid penalty, although, as he was already at the back, the punishment means little.
