Nico Hulkenberg will start the German Grand Prix from eighth position rather than seventh, a drop of one place, after the stewards found he had used a set of tyres which he shouldn't have during qualifying on Saturday.
The Force India driver was investigated after the session for an alleged breach of Article 24.4 of the Sporting Regulations for using a set of tyres during Q1 which should have been returned to Pirelli after final practice.
"Two sets [of the softest compound] must be returned to the Supplier [Pirelli] before the start of the qualifying session," states Article 24.4.
Force India did in fact return a set, but they scanned a different set, therefore leaving the identification system confused.
As a result, race stewards have imposed a one-place grid drop, with Hulkenberg penalised under Article 24.3 instead, which states that: "the use of tyres without appropriate identification may result in a grid position penalty or exclusion from the race."
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