Mercedes protests after the triumph
Fierce duel: Max Verstappen (front) followed by Lewis Hamilton
Source: Getty Images / Buda Mendes
After the triumph of Brazil, Mercedes spoke of an “absolute mess”. Now the Lewis Hamilton team has lodged a protest against a decision by the race stewards. A subsequent penalty could have consequences.
Dhe Formula 1 race in Brazil has consequences. Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team protests against a decision by the race stewards in favor of world championship leader Max Verstappen. On Tuesday, the racing team subsequently requested a review of the tough duel between Verstappen and Hamilton at the Grand Prix on Sunday, when the Red Bull driver had pushed the Silver Arrows star off the track. As a reason for the objection, Mercedes cited the emergence of new evidence that was not available to the race stewards during the championship run.
If Verstappen is subsequently punished, he could possibly slip backwards in the racing standings and thus lose further points to Hamilton. At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton almost overtook the Dutchman on the outside on lap 48, but Verstappen left him no space. Both pilots raced over the curb. The stewards made a note of the incident but did not consider an investigation to be necessary.
Still 14 points behind
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had criticized this shortly after crossing the finish line. It was an “absolute mess not to get a penalty for being pushed out,” Wolff scolded the TV broadcaster Sky. To dismiss the maneuver as a racing incident and “wipe under the carpet is actually embarrassing for the race management,” said Wolff.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, however, said: “The two fight hard, there is no contact between the two. I have no problem with that. ”A little later, Hamilton had overtaken Verstappen and won the race. In the overall standings, the Briton shortened his gap to the championship leader to 14 points with three races to go.
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