Nissan e.dams Sebastien Buemi will head the Formula E field later today in Santiago de Chile after poleman Lucas di Grassi was excluded from qualifying.
The Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler driver had put in a dominant performance in the top-six final shootout earlier today.
But an infraction linked to his slow in-lap procedure during his group qualifying run that preceded the super pole shootout warranted his exclusion from the session.
Di Grassi will start this afternoon's race last.
Offering a bit of insight on the penalty, Audi Sport commented on Twitter that "the rule was changed before the weekend and says that the driver must use the brakes in the same intensity as on his fast lap."
The rule was changed before the weekend and says that the driver must use the brakes in the same intensity as on his fast lap #OwnEverySecond #ABBFormulaE #FormulaE #SantiagoEPrix #etron #ProgressFeelsElectric pic.twitter.com/IFooT0Lhgg
— Audi Formula E (@audiformulae) January 26, 2019
Article 27.9 of Formula E’s sporting regulations was implemented ahead of this weekend's race following a request from FE supplier Spark on the grounds of safety.
It is believed the rule was brought in to prevent drivers from braking heavily on an in-lap, a practice done for the purpose of keeping tyre pressures at an adequate level, but one which also poses a risk to a driver closely following the slower car.
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