Several drivers issued 5-place grid penalties for gearbox changes

Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg has been issued a 5-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix, after the Force India mechanics were forced to change the German’s gearbox. The Silverstone-based outfit have recently become rather competitive after various upgrades were introduced last time out at Valencia.

The 24-year-old German has only retired from one race this season, at the season opening Australian Grand Prix. Nico Hulkenberg currently sits 14th in the Drivers’ Championship, with 17 points scored.

Marussia’s Charles Pic has also been issued an identical penalty, after his mechanics were also forced to change his gearbox. The Frenchman was knocked out of qualifying after Q1, and will therefore start tomorrow’s British Grand Prix last alongside the HRT of Narain Karthikeyan.

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