German GP: Lewis Hamilton allowed to start from 20th on grid
Lewis Hamilton will start from his 20th slot on the German Grand Prix grid after the FIA accepted that changing brake disc suppliers did not breach Formula 1's regulations
As AUTOSPORT reported earlier, if Mercedes could show the governing body that the switch of brake discs did not constitute a change of car specification then it would be allowed and a pitlane start would not be required.
Following meetings between the FIA and the Brackley-based team at Hockenheim on Sunday morning, it was agreed that the Carbone Industrie discs that Hamilton would be using were a similar weight to the Brembos he had on the car for qualifying.
Article 34.2 of F1's sporting regulations states that: "It must be clear that any replacement part a team wishes to fit is similar in mass, inertia and function to the original."
Although Hamilton qualified 15th, damage from his qualifying crash meant he needed a new gearbox fitted - which has caused a five-place grid penalty.
The only other penalty applied after qualifying was a three-place demotion for Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez following his collision with Pastor Maldonado at Silverstone.
The full starting grid for the German GP is:
Pos Driver Team/Car 1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 2. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 3. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 4. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 5. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 6. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 7. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 8. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 10. Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 11. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 12. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 13. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 14. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 15. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 16. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 17. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 18. Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 19. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 20. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 21. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 22. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault
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