Hamilton now just one point behind in the title race after 10-second time penalty given to Rosberg for Mercedes using banned radio messages; Mercedes lodge intention to appeal ruling
Monday 11 July 2016 18:03, UK
Nico Rosberg has been demoted to third place in the British GP after a 10-second penalty for Mercedes breaking radio rules.
Rosberg's title lead over Lewis Hamilton, the race victor, has been cut to just one point, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen promoted to second place in the revised Silverstone classification.
After more than three hours of deliberations, the Silverstone stewards ruled some of Mercedes' messages over the radio to Rosberg to combat a gearbox glitch did contravene 2016's tightened regulations on how far teams can go to assist their drivers in the car.
An FIA statement read: 'Having considered the matter extensively, the stewards determined that the team gave some instructions to the driver that we specifically permitted under Technical Directive 014-16.
'However, the Stewards determined that the team 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.'
Race report: Hamilton wins fourth British GP
The illegal radio message relates to Rosberg's race engineer, Tony Ross, telling him "you need to shift through" the gearbox in order to avoid a problematic seventh gear.
Rosberg had told Sky F1 he was "not worried" about the investigation as "the team have studied that [radio rules] in and out", while both Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda expressed confidence immediately after the race they would be cleared.
The championship leader has now received two post-race time penalties in as many weeks after being given the same 10-second punishment for crashing with Hamilton on the last lap in the Austrian GP.
At Silverstone on Sunday, Rosberg finished less than two seconds in front of Verstappen after overtaking the Dutchman for second place late in the race having earlier dropped behind the Red Bull.
WATCH: Verstappen's Rosberg overtake
F1's radio rules have been tightened for 2016 in order to clamp down on so-called 'driver coaching'.
Williams technical chief Pat Symonds revealed to Sky F1 on Friday that Charlie Whiting, the FIA's race director, had warned teams at Silverstone the "honeymoon period was over" regarding the governing body's policing of the changes.
At last month's European GP, the 2016 clampdown meant Mercedes were unable to tell Hamilton and Rosberg how to alter engine mode settings on their steering wheels during the race.
The stewards' statement in full
'The stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, heard from the driver and team representatives and examined audio evidence, have considered the following matter, determine a breach of the regulations has been committed.
'Reason: Having considered the matter extensively, the stewards determined that the team gave some instructions to the driver that we specifically permitted under Technical Directive 014-16.
'However, the Stewards determined that the team 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.'
