SUSPENSION FAILURE
N
ico Rosberg’s hopes of a third successive
Austrian Grand Prix win took a hit on Saturday
when he crashed in final practice and
damaged his Mercedes’ gearbox, incurring a fiveplace grid penalty.
Mercedes said mechanics worked flat out
to repair the damaged car in time for afternoon
qualifying at the Red Bull Ring circuit.
“A gearbox penalty will be incurred as a new unit
will be fitted for qualifying,” a spokesman said.
Championship leader Rosberg was the only
driver to have won in Austria since the race returned
in 2014, after an 11-year absence and was hoping to
continue the run to increase his 24-point lead over
team mate Lewis Hamilton.
However the accident, after Rosberg had
dominated Friday’s practice sessions with the fastest
lap ever at the scenic circuit nestling in the wooded
Styrian hills, appeared to hand the British triple F1
world champion a significant advantage.
Mercedes reported that the car had suffered a left
rear suspension failure after an unusually high load
at full throttle on the exit kerb at Turn 2. The car spun
several times before spearing into the barriers.
Mercedes executive director Paddy Lowe told
Sky Sports: “We need to understand the problem with
Nico’s car, but it looks like there was a suspension
failure on the kerb, We need to make sure we’re
covered for the race.”
The session was halted with 21 minutes
remaining and the car brought back to the garage on
a truck, with Rosberg, winner of five of the season’s
eight races to date, making his frustration evident on
his return.
Hamilton had earlier expressed concern about
his car’s rear tyres, asking the team over the radio to
take a look because “something is not right.”