No engine change for Kovalainen

(GMM) Contrary to some suggestions from the Sepang paddock on Saturday, Heikki Kovalainen will not be penalized ten places on the Malaysian GP grid.

Although the Finn did switch to the T-car during free practice on Saturday, Renault mechanics had fitted the entire rear end of his broken race car – – including the engine he raced in Australia – to the spare, thus avoiding the penalty for using a different power plant.

Pat Symonds confirmed that Kovalainen's original R27 had struck a fuel pump problem; an identical glitch to that seen at Albert Park.

Kovalainen's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella struggled to just thirteenth quickest in the last practice session prior to qualifying later today.

"We have improved slightly since Australia," engineering veteran Symonds insisted to the TV broadcaster Premiere.

He added: "It doesn't look like it today, but it is the case."