Meanwhile, Hamilton’s teammate Nico Rosberg managed to cross the line in second position, but faced a 10 second penalty after the race stewards noticed that Mercedes team had breached the newly implemented radio communication limitations.
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“I was happy to have finished the race as my gearbox issue at the end was really serious and I nearly had to retire the auto – but luckily I got it fixed”.
Two-time British Grand Prix victor Mark Webber congratulated Lewis Hamilton on the podium at Silverstone on Sunday after the British racer took victory in the British Grand Prix for the fourth time, writes James Beckett.
Mercedes will not appeal the penalty imposed on Nico Rosberg by stewards at the British Grand Prix but claim they intend to continue opposing “over-regulation” in Formula One.
“I’m glad the good English weather came out”, Hamilton said playing to the home crowd on the podium.
Once the grand prix proper began, Hamilton threw up a high plume of spray ahead of Rosberg as most of the drivers – bar the top four – rushed to the pits for intermediate tyres.
“I was trying to get him to empty his battery but when he did, mine was empty too”.
As the track improved, Verstappen and then Rosberg picked up the pace before Hamilton responded.
After joining from Toro Rosso, Verstappen won on his debut with the Red Bull team at the Spanish Grand Prix in May to become the sport’s youngest race victor.
The Silverstone race started under a safety auto, since the circuit was drenched due to a heavy shower just before the start.
Rosberg and Verstappen rounded out the podium behind Hamilton. Eighth place would go to Carlos Sainz Jr, while Sebastian Vettel had a forgettable weekend to finish ninth, and Daniil Kvyat took home tenth place.
“Having considered the matter extensively, the stewards determined that the team gave some instructions to the driver that were specifically permitted”, said the statement.
Rosberg leads Hamilton overall by 168 to 167 points, with Raikkonen third on 106.
The race engineer instructed Rosberg to “avoid seventh gear” and affirmed that he “need to shift through it”.
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At the time Rosberg was stuck in seventh gear and was issued with a code to input into his panel.
