Malaysian Grand Prix stewards summoned McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen after complaints that they had impeded rivals in qualifying.

BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, who qualified seventh, and Renault's ninth-placed Fernando Alonso both complained about being held up at the end of the third and final session when others had completed their quick laps and were slowing down to save fuel.

"In Q3 most of the cars were already very, very slow when I was on my flying lap, just like [they were] parked on the circuit," Heidfeld said.

"The biggest fault was both of the McLarens in front of turn four being in the middle of the racing line and I could not be on the line I wanted, especially for braking.

"I lost some time there and if you look at the times, they were very, very close. I think I lost two tenths which would be third place. But what can you do now?"

German Heidfeld was second in last weekend's Australian season-opener.

Kovalainen qualified third with Hamilton - the championship leader after winning in Melbourne - fourth in a session completed before rain fell.

Heidfeld said he had complained to his team on the radio about being blocked and suggested the governing FIA look into the matter.

"From my point of view, it was not correct what they [the McLaren drivers] did," he said.

Alonso - the double world champion who drove for McLaren last year but fell out with management and Hamilton before returning to Renault - spoke to stewards before the McLaren drivers were heard.

"I could have done better in Q3 this afternoon as I was with Heidfeld on a fast lap while the others were going slowly, and that affected me a bit, which is a shame," he said.

McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said there had been no deliberate intent to hold anyone up.

"Neither of our drivers did it intentionally. They did all they could to squeeze over to allow Nick and Fernando to do their quick laps," he said.

"We informed our drivers that there were people trying to do their flying laps. There was congestion at one part of the circuit with six cars trying to go into one corner.

"I don't think we impaired Nick but I can understand visually if you have got all of those cars and you are trying to do a quick lap it is not something you are going to be comfortable or happy with."

Reuters