Grid penalty awaits Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg will be hit with a five-place grid penalty in Russia as his VJM07 needed a new gearbox.

Last Sunday, Hulkenberg’s Japanese Grand Prix ended with his Force India stuck on the side of the track as the car ground to a halt.

With the gearbox deemed to be the problem, Force India were forced to change it ahead of this weekend’s Russian GP.

As a result, the German will be hit with a five-place grid penalty as the gearbox had not reached the end of its six-race cycle.

Hulkenberg finished eighth on count back to lap 44 in the race-flagged Japanese GP.