NASCAR Cup Series

Mercedes drivers Schumacher, Rosberg get penalties

Published Aug. 28, 2010 5:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

A gearbox penalty to Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg compounded what is shaping up to be a tough Belgian Grand Prix for the German Formula One team.

Michael Schumacher qualified 11th and Rosberg 12th at Spa on Saturday, but the German pair are both set to drop down the starting grid due to penalties.

Schumacher will drop 10 places for nearly forcing Rubens Barrichello into a wall at high speed at the preceding Hungarian GP, while Rosberg's replacement of his gearbox before qualifying means he will be penalized five places.

''We've done a lot of work on our car in the past races but this hasn't matched the performance and we've obviously dropped back,'' team principal Ross Brawn said. ''Michael and Nico ended up missing out on (the final session) by fractions of a second due to another driver, which is frustrating.''

Frustrating is probably the word that best describes Mercedes' year after so many expectations had accompanied its start.

The German company decided to buy out constructors' champion Brawn and return to F1 as a manufacturer for the first time since 1955. It signed Rosberg from Williams before landing the offseason coup in Schumacher, the seven-time world champion deciding to return for a new challenge after three years in retirement.

Mercedes was expected to contend for the title but is already focusing on developing its 2011 car due to its poor season.

''It's definitely becoming more and more difficult (to compete) because on pure pace we're just not there,'' Rosberg said. ''I'm hoping for rain tomorrow - it's our only chance.''

Schumacher will again be depending on other cars in Sunday's 44-lap race in what are expected to be mixed conditions.

Schumacher's best finish is fourth. He hasn't gone a season without a top-three finish since 1991 - his rookie year with Jordan.

''I'm not disappointed because that's where I expected to be. The best scenario was 16th, but then today we saw ninth or 10th was achievable,'' said Schumacher, who trails F1 leader Mark Webber by 123 points in the standings.

''Of our own efforts, we know we will not be able to win a race.''