Nico Rosberg penalised for British Grand Prix F1 radio rules breach

After finishing second at Silverstone behind race-winner and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg has had 10 seconds added to his time, and is now classified third behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The penalty reduces Rosberg's championship lead over Hamilton to just one point.

A statement from the stewards, led by 1992 F1 world champion Nigel Mansell, said: "Having considered the matter extensively, the stewards determined the team gave some instructions to the driver that were specifically permitted under technical directive 014-16.

"However, the stewards determined the team then went further and gave instructions to the driver that were not permitted under the technical directive, and were in breach of article 27.1 of the sporting regulations, that the driver must drive the car alone and unaided."

Six laps from the end, when second-placed Rosberg was six seconds adrift of leader Hamilton, the German driver informed his team over the radio of a "gearbox problem".

With Rosberg losing pace and third-placed Verstappen closing in, Mercedes informed him to attempt a different setting, before suggesting he "avoid seventh gear".

Rosberg then asked for clarification as to whether he "should shift through it", to which he received an immediate response - "Yes, shift to eighth gear quickly".

It was an exchange that allowed Rosberg to keep Verstappen behind him over the final six laps, finishing 1.339s clear of the teenage Dutchman.

In the first incident of its kind since the introduction of the new regulations this season, the stewards summoned Rosberg to a hearing for an alleged breach of article 27.1 of the sporting regulations, namely "the driver shall drive the car alone and unaided".

In mitigation, Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff cited point number two of a technical directive regarding permitted radio messages, referring to an "indication of a critical problem with the car".

In addition, it reads: "Any message of this sort may only be used if failure of a component or system is imminent and potentially terminal."

Wolff said: "In my opinion, that was the basis of our decision."

Asked what would have happened if the message had not been relayed, Wolff said: "It would have been stuck in seventh gear and that would have been the end, probably."

REVISED RESULTS - 52 LAPS:

REVISED DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS