Rosberg hit with five-place grid penalty

Rosberg also hit with gearbox penalty

Nico Rosberg will take a five-place grid penalty at the Austrian Grand Prix, with mechanics forced to change his gearbox after he crashed out of final practice.

Rosberg, who had just started a hot lap, lost control of his Mercedes over the Turn 2 exit curbs, before hitting the barriers and drifting back on to the circuit.

TV replays suggested a suspension failure, with the left-rear set-up appearing to cave in as he rode the curbs, a theory Mercedes is tentatively supporting.

"It looks like it was a suspension failure on the curbs," Mercedes technical chief Paddy Lowe explained to Sky Sports, prior to a detailed investigation.

He added: "Nico was on full throttle on the curbs at the point he lost rear end. But we need to look into it and we need to make sure we're covered for race."

Mercedes is working flat out to prepare Rosberg's car for qualifying, and confirmed a new gearbox is required, meaning he will drop five places on the grid.

Rosberg joins Sebastian Vettel in taking a gearbox penalty.