Alonso punished for impeding Massa

Renault's Fernando Alonso was dropped from fifth to 10th place on the Italian GP starting grid for impeding Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Renault's Formula One champion Fernando Alonso was dropped from fifth to 10th place on the Italian Grand Prix starting grid for impeding Ferrari's Felipe Massa in Saturday's qualifying.

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Race stewards ordered that the Spaniard, 12 points clear of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher with four races remaining, be stripped of his three best qualifying laps from the final session.

Seven times world champion Schumacher will start Ferrari's home race on the front row. Renault are just two points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship.