Mark Webber will start the Chinese Grand Prix from the pitlane after the Red Bull team opted to change his gearbox and to optimise his set-up for the race.
Webber had been demoted to the back of the grid from 14th after he was under-fuelled by accident, leaving him stranded at the penultimate turn with less than the mandatory one litre fuel sample.
Removing the Australian’s car from parc ferme conditions means the team can change several settings and by changing his gearbox, they can change his gear ratios to provide him with a higher top speed to improve his chances of overtaking from 22nd.
He was the third slowest through the speed trap during qualifying.
The team opted for the same move in Abu Dhabi last season with Sebastian Vettel when his RB9 was under-fuelled. He finished third, in part thanks to two safety car periods.
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