Grid penalty for Hamilton

12/04/2012

Before the Shanghai weekend has even begun, Lewis Hamilton has incurred a grid penalty after his team opted to change the gearbox on his car.

The Englishman has had a difficult start to his 2012 campaign, for despite taking pole in both the opening races he failed to convert either of them into a win, losing out to teammate Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel in Australia and Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez in Malaysia.

With his team confirming its decision to change the gearbox on his MP4-27, the Englishman, who forfeits five grid places, will face another uphill struggle on Sunday.