Fire extinguisher fault costs Buemi P2 start

Buemi has been handed a five-placed grid penalty, dropping him to seventh, and a €2500 fine.

A post-session check revealed the fire extinguisher on his Renault e.dams Z.E.16 was under the 3.25kg minimum weight, breaching Article 15.4 of the technical regulations.

The stewards deemed it a "serious safety issue", while Renault suspects a leak caused the device to empty.

"The rule is the rule and the fire extinguisher basically emptied itself," said Buemi. "It's not really the case of being lighter, I was in the right weight limit, but the car was not safe anymore.

"It's a shame but it's not the end of the world."

Buemi had qualified second for the Moroccan race, behind rookie poleman Felix Rosenqvist.

DS Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird has been promoted to the front row, while Nelson Piquet Jr will now start third and Jean-Eric Vergne fourth.

Daniel Abt and Nico Prost will fill the third row.