Nico Rosberg penalized five places on the grid
Mercedes' mechanics were in a race against time after Nico Rosberg went off the track in Free Practice 3, forcing them to replace his gearbox, which cost him five places on the grid.
While Nico Rosberg had dominated the entire day on Friday and seemed well on his way to achieving three consecutive victories on the Austrian circuit, he now faces a much bigger challenge. Indeed, the rupture of his left rear suspension this Saturday morning sent him crashing into the wall and caused significant damage to his car.
Among the parts to be replaced is his gearbox, as the team quickly confirmed.
In these conditions, his chances of winning have greatly diminished since the Red Bull Ring is very narrow, with many right-angle turns, which greatly limits overtaking attempts.
It is therefore a clear path opening up for Lewis Hamilton as Sebastian Vettel also has to face the same penalty.
From our special correspondent in Spielberg
