Motorsport: Mercedes won't appeal Rosberg penalty

Nico Rosberg during the Formula One Grand Prix of Great Britain. Photo / Getty Images

Mercedes will not appeal against a British Grand Prix penalty that left Nico Rosberg just one point clear of teammate Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One world championship.

The champions had given notice at Silverstone on Monday that they intended to appeal the 10 second penalty that dropped the German from second to third in a race won by triple champion Hamilton.

The penalty was incurred for a breach of the rules governing what can be said over the radio. Mercedes had advised Rosberg on how to deal with a gearbox problem that had emerged in the closing laps.

"The team accepts the stewards' interpretation of the regulation, their decision and the associated penalty," Mercedes said on Tuesday.