10/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Nico Rosberg has been handed a 10s time penalty having breached radio communication rules.
After a couple of hours of deliberations, the Stewards at Silverstone, who include 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell, deemed that the Mercedes team gave Rosberg instructions that were specifically permitted under Technical Directive 014-16.
In the closing stages of the race, Rosberg advised his engineer that he had a gearbox problem.
"Driver default 1-0-1, chassis default 0-1, chassis default 0-1," came the response.
In a follow-up, Rosberg was told: "Avoid seventh gear, Nico, avoid seventh gear."
The German then asked: "What does that mean, I have to shift through it?"
"Affirm Nico, you need to shift through it," came the reply. "Affirm, you need to shift through it."
The stewards concluded that while some of the instructions Rosberg was given were permissible, others were illegal.
"Having considered the matter extensively, the Stewards determined that the team gave some instructions to the driver that were specifically permitted under Technical Directive 014-16," read the Stewards statement.
"However, the Stewards determined that the team then went further and gave instructions to the driver that were not permitted under the Technical Directive, and were in Breach of Art. 27.1 of the Sporting Regulations, that the driver must drive the car alone and unaided."
The subsequent 10s penalty means that Rosberg drops to third behind Max Verstappen in today's results, whilst in the championship his lead over teammate Lewis Hamilton is reduced to one point.
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