After dominating Friday practice, the FIA has revealed Lewis Hamilton will take a five-place grid penalty for an out-of-sequence gearbox change in Austria.
That means the British driver will start Sunday’s race in sixth at best but opportunities to pass do exist at the Red Bull Ring, giving the 32-year-old the chance to recover in another twist in this year’s Formula 1 title race.
Under the current regulations, gearboxes must last for six events before a new can be installed but Mercedes was aware a new transmission would be needed after Baku, giving the FIA notice of the change on Tuesday.
The man most likely to benefit is main title rival Sebastian Vettel, who finished second in the afternoon on Friday, but Hamilton and the Brackley-based team will be hoping Valtteri Bottas can step up to potentially disrupt the German’s charge.
Another variable could be the weather, with showers and thunderstorms possible both on Saturday and Sunday in Spielberg.
Minimising grid penalties is likely to be crucial as the year progresses with all drivers limited to just four of the each component that makes up the power unit.
On this, Mercedes do have the advantage after Ferrari had issues earlier in the season and Vettel himself had to switch to an old unit before qualifying in Baku due to an engine problem.