Lewis Hamilton hit with five-place grid penalty

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton will be hit with a five-place grid penalty due to a gearbox change ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.

The 27-year-old has confirmed that he will be at a disadvantage for the third race of the season following a necessary gearbox replacement.

The former world champion has had a relatively positive start to this year's campaign, clinching third place in both the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.

Meanwhile, Hamilton's McLaren teammate Jenson Button kicked off the season with a victory in Melbourne but slumped to 14th place in Malaysia, where the track was hampered by fierce weather conditions.