Petrov appeared to veer across the path of Hulkenberg as the cars left the grid, clipping the German’s front wheel. That contact sent the Russian spinning into the barriers on the main straight.
Petrov claimed he had been trying to avoid Nick Heidfeld’s BMW Sauber, but the Suzuka stewards decided he had caused an avoidable collision. He will drop five grid positions at the next round in Korea as a result.
Stewards also investigated the lap-one contact between Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi that led to both their retirements, but decided no action was necessary.
