Sao Paolo, Brazil - Local hero Felipe Massa was excluded from the result of Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix after the tyres of his Williams car were found to be too hot at the start of the race.
Pre-race checks found the temperature of the tyres on the Sao Paulo-born Massa's car were 137 degrees Celsius. The limit is 110.
Massa had finished the race in eighth position. His exclusion means Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus moves up to eighth, Dutch teenager Max Verstappen of Toro Rosso to ninth and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Lotus to 10th.
In a statement, the FIA said: “The rear right tyre on car 19 did not comply with the maximum tread temperature as specified in the event preview of the official tyre supplier.”
It is the second disqualification in Massa's career.
He was also disqualified at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix where he exited the pits under a red light.
His Williams team confirmed they will appeal against the exclusion.
AFP