Jenson Button issued five-place grid penalty

Jenson Button has been handed a five-place grid penalty for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

The punishment comes as a result of an unscheduled gearbox change made by McLaren at the Singapore event on September 23.

Teammate Lewis Hamilton made the same change but will not be penalised because he retired during the race.

Technical Director Paddy Lowe told Autosport: "Jenson's gearbox had the same problem as Lewis's gearbox during the Singapore Grand Prix, and subsequent investigation has revealed a terminal failure.

"Therefore both cars must start the Japanese Grand Prix with new gearboxes, which means that Jenson will receive a five-place penalty."

Button currently sits 6th in the drivers' standings with 119 points, 85 adrift of leader Fernando Alonso.