Sepang, Malaysia  - Brawn GP driver Rubens Barrichello will lose five places on the starting grid for Sunday's Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix over a gearbox change.

The ruling body FIA announced the sanction after the gearbox was changed on Barrichello's car after Friday practice. Under F1 rules a gearbox must last four races before it can be replaced without sanctions.

Barrichello finished second behind team-mate Jenson Button at the season-opener on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia. The punishment means he will be no better than sixth on the grid in Sepang, depending on his qualifying result on Saturday.

German Red Bull rider Sebastian Vettel will lose 10 places on the grid, a penalty imposed by FIA in Melbourne for his role in a crash with BMW's Robert Kubica late in the Australian GP. dpa