The Italian, Giancarlo Fisichella ran a red light at the beginning of the first practice session at the track on Friday, meaning he will have to start the race three places further back in the field regardless of where he qualifies.
Fisichella was among the first drivers to take to the track in the morning of the first day, and it is thought his car left the pits a fraction too early.
Force India are one of only two teams without a world championship point this season.
And the penalty for their number one driver is unlikely to assist the team in their quest to break their 2008 duck in Formula One.
The team is in its first season under the new moniker of ‘Force India’ after consortium owner Vijay Mallya headed a buy out of the Spyker F1 team.
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