Rosberg demoted to third after radio penalty

Nico Rosberg has had 10 seconds added to his race time by the stewards in Great Britain after Mercedes were deemed to have given him illegal assistance over team radio during Sunday’s race at Silverstone.

The penalty drops Rosberg from second position to third, behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, though Mercedes intend to appeal the decision.

The infraction occurred late in the race when Rosberg developed gearbox problems. Mercedes quickly gave the German instructions on how to work through the issue - permitted in the event of a potential terminal failure - but subsequent advice on how to drive the car was found to be in breach of article 27.1 of the FIA’s Formula One Sporting Regulations, which states that the driver must drive the car alone and unaided.

“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 a statement from the stewards.

“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 world championship leader's demotion means that team mate Lewis Hamilton is now just one point behind in the drivers’ standings, with 167 points to the German’s 168.