Liuzzi to start in last place

Tonio Liuzzi will start from last on the grid for today’s Brazilian Grand Prix after incurring a five-place penalty for a gearbox change.

Liuzzi qualified 15th in yesterday’s rain-hit session in his Force India, sparking one of two red flags after crashing heavily at the start of Q2.

The Italian escaped unharmed after his car aquaplaned into the pit wall before sliding backwards into a tyre barrier, sustaining severe damage.

The team decided last night to change the gearbox, incurring the penalty that will see Liuzzi drop to 20th.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel now moves up a place to 15th and will start directly behind title rival Jenson Button in his Brawn GP.

McLaren duo Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton move up to 16th and 17th, with Nick Heidfeld in his BMW Sauber 18th and Ferrari’s Giancarlo Fisichella 19th.