Nico Rosberg has been handed a 10-second time penalty for breaching the radio rules at the British Grand Prix, dropping him to third overall.The Mercedes driver had finished second, but was investigated by the stewards after being given instructions to recover from a gearbox problem he suffered near the end of the race.

What Mercedes told him was deemed to be a breach of the rules that prevents drivers being assisted from the pit wall.

A statement issued by the FIA said that while some of the instructions Mercedes gave him were allowed, other parts of the advice were illegal.

“Having considered the matter extensively, the Stewards determined that the team gave some instructions to the driver that were specifically permitted under Technical Directive 014-16,” it said.

“However, the Stewards determined that the team then went further and gave instructions to the driver that were not permitted under the Technical Directive, and were in Breach of Art. 27.1 of the Sporting Regulations, that the driver must drive the car alone and unaided.”

The result moved Max Verstappen up to second overall behind race winner Lewis Hamilton, who is now just one point behind Rosberg in the drivers’ championship.

Mercedes lodges appeal over Rosberg penalty

Rosberg lost second place to Max Verstappen as a result of the penalty, after the FIA deemed the team had given the German illegal advice on the radio after he suffered a gearbox problem.

In effect, Mercedes has bought itself time to assess the situation, and it can now decide whether to proceed with the appeal or withdraw it.

Had it not appealed the results would have been final today.

The key to the decision was the team telling Rosberg how to deal with his seventh gear problem.

Story and photo: Motorsport.com