Mercedes appeal Rosberg penalty

Mercedes have appealed Nico Rosberg’s 10-second penalty, which cost him second place in the British Grand Prix and three World Championship points.

Hours after the chequered flag had fallen in Sunday’s 52-lap grand prix, a race won by Lewis Hamilton, stewards declared that Mercedes were in breach of Art.27.1. of the sporting regulations.

They ruled that the Brackley team “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 penalty relates to a conversation Rosberg had with his engineers late in the race when he suffered a gearbox problem.

Rosberg: “Gearbox problem.”
Engineer: “Driver default 1-0-1, chassis default 0-1, chassis default 0-1.”
Engineer: “Avoid seventh gear, Nico, avoid seventh gear.”
Rosberg: “What does that mean, I have to shift through it?”
Engineer: “Affirm Nico, you need to shift through it. Affirm, you need to shift through it.”

Mercedes, however, believed that the communication with Rosberg fell within the regulations.

As such the reigning World Champions have lodged an appeal against the stewards’ decision.