Red Bull’s Mark Webber has become the latest driver to receive a 5-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s German Grand Prix, after requiring a gearbox change on his RB8. This means the Australian driver will join Nico Rosberg and Romain Grosjean in dropping five grid slots once qualifying is over later this afternoon.
This penalty comes after his Red Bull mechanics broke the tracks curfew at the Hockenheimring, as they inspected the issue on the gearbox. With the problem terminal, the gearbox was changed incurring the 5-place grid drop. The sporting regulations stipulate that gearboxes must last for five races between each change, similar to the regulation regarding engine usage throughout the season.
After the British Grand Prix weekend, it became apparent that Romain Grosjean would suffer a 5-pace grid drop, and during practice at the Hockenheimring yesterday it was confirmed that Nico Rosberg would also suffer the same penalty. With three top drivers set to drop through the order after qualifying, the grid will look considerably different in comparison to how the qualifying hour ends later this afternoon once the penalties come into affect.
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