Gary Paffett has been excluded from qualifying for the Oschersleben DTM race after his HWA Mercedes squad were adjudged to have broken parc ferme rules during the session.
A member of his pit crew was found to have contravened the regulations by checking the tire pressures on the car following the end of Q1.
Under the DTM's sporting regulations, technical interference with cars is prohibited while parc ferme conditions are active. Paffett was also fined 1000 euros for the breach.
Paffett was due to start from the back row anyway, having failed to complete a flying lap in qualifying due to a misfire.