SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Webber takes five place grid hit

Mark Webber's Spa chances took a blow late Friday when it was revealed that his Red Bull RB8 will require a gearbox change ahead of third practice.

Webber is currently second in the championship, 40 points adrift of series leader Fernando Alonso. The Australian needed an unscheduled gearbox change at the German GP as well, where he finished eighth.

Gearboxes are required to last five races and Webber's Belgian change means that he will be moved back five places on the Spa grid. KERS proved particularly effective at Spa last year, however, so the effect on Webber's race chances are not expected to be as dire as would have been the case at a ciruit such as Budapest, for example.