Mat Coch writes:

Ahead of opening practice Red Bull has inspected Mark Webber’s gearbox in order to check for damage suffered during the Italian Grand Prix.

At Monza two weeks ago Webber was told to short shift out of second gear while teammate Sebastian Vettel was instructed to do the same out of fifth and sixth gears.

Both drivers are understood to have carried less than perfect gearboxes throughout the Italian Grand Prix, with Vettel having to switch his car to rain mode in order to have smoother gear changes and therefore put less pressure on the gearbox.

The inspection of Webber’s gearbox will not incur the Australian a penalty as it conforms to Article 28.6d of the Sporting Regulations, while Red Bull also took the opportunity to replace drive shaft seals.

Red Bull has opted not to perform the same inspection on Vettel’s car.

Article 28.6d of the Sporting Regulations states:

At each Event seals may be broken once, under supervision and at any time prior to the second day of practice, for the sole purpose of changing gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears). Competitors must inform the FIA technical delegate which ratios they intend to fit no later than two hours after the end of P2. However, one additional change of ratios and dog rings will be permitted if a gearbox change is necessary on the first day of practice before the end of P2.

Gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears) may also be changed under supervision for others of identical specification at any time during an Event provided the FIA technical delegate is satisfied there is evident physical damage to the parts in question and that such changes are not being carried out on a systematic basis.

Check out our Friday gallery, here.