JULY 20, 2012

Nico Rosberg hit by five place grid penalty

The Mercedes driver will join Lotus's Romain Grosjean in suffering a five place penalty on the Hockenheim grid after he, too, needed a gearbox change for the German GP.

The Mercedes driver will join Lotus's Romain Grosjean in suffering a five place penalty on the Hockenheim grid after he, too, needed a gearbox change for the German GP.

Both Rosberg and team mate Michael Schumacher came into the weekend confident that Hockenheim would suit their Mercedes chassis much more than Silverstone, but both have been hit by opening day problems.

"I had a gearbox issue at Silverstone and so we have had to change that and put a new 'box in," Rosberg explained. "That means a five place grid penalty, which doesn't make things any easier and is particularly a shame at my home grand prix."

Rosberg finished Friday's secoond free practice session second only to Pastor Maldonado's Williams. Team mate Michael Schumacher, meanwhile, admitted to losing concentration in his Turn 12 accident that resulted in the session being black-flagged.