Grid penalty for Hamilton
Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton must take a five grid-place penalty at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix because of an early switch of gearbox.
His Mercedes team confirmed the penalty on its Twitter feed Thursday.
The previous gearbox was impacted by the first-corner collision Hamilton had at the Bahrain Grand Prix, prompting the team to make the change inside the six-race limit and triggering the penalty.
Crew members work on the car of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain in the team's pit garage ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, on Thursday. Picture/AP
Mercedes says it was "not the ideal start to the Chinese GP weekend admittedly ... but of all the places to take a grid hit, this is one of the better ones" because of the strong overtaking opportunities at the Shanghai circuit.
Hamilton is 17 points behind teammate Nico Rosberg, who won the season's opening two races.
-AP