02/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Nico Rosberg will take a 5-place grid penalty in Austria after his team changed his gearbox.
The decision to change his gearbox follows the German's high-speed crash during FP3 this morning, which was the result of a suspension failure.
The world championship leader, who set a blistering pace on Friday, was enduring a difficult morning, as was teammate Lewis Hamilton, as the Mercedes suffered severe graining to its tyres, thought to be related to the higher track temperatures today.
Toto Wolff subsequently confirmed that the left-rear lower wishbone had failed, the upper wishbone failing moments later, sending Rosberg into the barriers.
At the time of the incident, Rosberg had just gone quickest in the first sector as he attempted to close the gap to pace-setter Sebastian Vettel.
Although Hamilton was advised not to go out in the final moments of the session as the team continued its investigation into Rosberg's crash, the Briton improved to third quickest, just 0.210s off Vettel's time.
Ironically, Vettel has also been hit with a grid penalty after Ferrari opted to change his gearbox after discovering iron filings in it.
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