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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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by 4SQUARETYRES, 13/07/2016 14:24

"As each race passes I lose more interest in this sport."

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2. Posted by Warpdriv, 12/07/2016 16:10

"SMH... just how was Nico supposed to know there was a problem with 7th gear if they were not allowed to tell him to avoid it by shifting through it.
Was avoiding 7th gear not critical to the gearbox life in conjunction with the mode change?... I assumed it was by the warning instruction. I considered both instructions equal. Nico requested clarification on the question of shifting through it was allowed or he just had a 6 speed gearbox to work with.
"

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3. Posted by edllorca, 11/07/2016 13:16

"It took two hours for the stewards to figure out the call was illegal? A few million viewers knew this the moment they heard it... "

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 11/07/2016 8:02

"It's hard not to feel a frisson of schadenfreude, especially when Mercedes were so definite that they couldn't "coach" Lewis last weekend!

The reality, of course, is that the Law sir is an ass. More specifically this nebulous bit of rule-making prohibiting "coaching" etc. simply brings the whole of F1 into disrepute. "

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5. Posted by bfairey, 11/07/2016 5:33

"Stupid, Stupid I suspect Whiting is behind this."

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6. Posted by SideGlance, 11/07/2016 3:43

"Of course the driver can always go to the pits for a fix, no ?

But when it comes to a safety issue w/ car and can be shown post race or obvious to all, then the pit should be able to assist - safety before racing IMO.

This was not a safety situation, but not really 'coaching' either, FIA needs to be consistent in ALL things, how about those qualifying issues ?????"

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7. Posted by metalhead, 10/07/2016 23:41

"And this ladies and gentlemen is why this is a fringe sport at best. Can you imagine if rules in basketball or football are changed mid-season? Hobby activity (not calling it sport) for the rich"

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8. Posted by Superbird70, 10/07/2016 23:19

"All or nothing. I vote nothing so the playing field is level. If its an emergency then race control and provide the information. "

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9. Posted by Ro, 10/07/2016 22:00

"How long before they use coded messages, or send texts to the driver ??? Agree with -ape-, its an absolute joke. They couldn't even put out a pit board message....where is this sport going ?"

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10. Posted by -ape-, 10/07/2016 19:39

"Ha ha didn't i read in the readers comments after Baku that Nico needed no help like Lewis ...cuz Nico was sooo smart he could adjust the buttons himself. "

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11. Posted by White Lightning, 10/07/2016 19:22

"For God's sake, this sport is pathetic."

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Rosberg handed 10s time penalty

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