Formula One: Hamilton hit with grid penalty after gearbox switch
Hamilton is being led in the drivers championship by four points by his Mercedes teammate Rosberg.
HOCKENHEIM, Germany (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton will have to start from at least 20th on the grid for Sunday's German Grand Prix after receiving a five-place penalty for a gearbox change.
The change was necessary after the Mercedes driver's high speed crash in qualifying at Hockenheim on Saturday.
The 29-year-old, who is likely to start from the pit lane, had switched to Brembo brakes on Saturday morning.
But following a failure of his right front disc that pitched him into a collision with the barriers at the Sachskurve the team said they wanted to revert to Carbone Industrie discs on Hamilton's car.
Changing brake specification is a breach of the parc ferme regulations.
Hamilton is being led in the drivers championship by four points by his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who starts the 67-lap race from pole position.
