By James Broughton, July 14, 2016
Rosberg responded: “What does that mean? I have to shift through it?”
Tony Ross: “Affirm Nico, you need to shift through it. Affirm, you need to shift through it.”
Mercedes subsequently launched an appeal however they have now decided not to pursue the matter and accept the decision made by the race stewards at the British Grand Prix.
Once the FIA and it’s representatives have made a decision to penalise a team for having broken whatever rule it very, very rarely overturns a decision.
Teams are only allowed to communicate instructions if the car has a critical problem such as a imminent or potentially terminal failure.
When Rosberg radioed to his team that he could not engage 7th gear he was instructed to change to a specific mode.
It seems that Mercedes knew this would get them into trouble, rolled the dice and played their hand in a determined effort to get a 1-2 podium finish. The gamble didn’t pay off.