Mercedes has requested a review of the incident when world champion Lewis Hamilton attempted to overtake rival Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen was leading at 48e lap when Hamilton attempted to pass him at turn 4. The Red Bull driver defended his position and appeared to push the Mercedes driver off the track.
Both were able to continue the race. Hamilton overtook Verstappen for good at 59e lap of the Interlagos circuit, to gain and reduce the Dutchman’s lead to 14 points, even though he was in 10e row on the starting grid.
The race marshals took the incident under advisement, but quickly concluded that no further action was necessary as they considered it to be a racing incident.
“I think it was a good fight,” Verstappen said after the race. I mean we both of course tried to be ahead in the turn, so I braked a bit late to keep that position. I was at the limit of grip. That’s why I think I was in the rope point and it was safer to come out a bit wide. In a way, I was happy that the marshals decided that we could continue the race. “
Hamilton appeared to ignore the incident during the post-race press conference.
“I haven’t thought about it too much, and obviously I’ll have to watch the recovery, but it’s a tough fight and I expect no less,” said the British driver. The wheels didn’t touch, which is good. “
Mercedes said it was appealing “on the basis of new evidence not available by the commissioners at the time of their decision”.
Commissioners must now meet with representatives of the team to assess the new evidence. The governing body of the FIA must confirm whether it accepts the appeal.
There are three races left in the thrilling championship fight, starting with the inaugural race in Qatar on Sunday. If the review concludes that there has been a wrongdoing on the part of Verstappen, he could be assessed a grid penalty for that race or a five-second penalty. Verstappen finished the race in second place ahead of Hamilton teammate Valtteri Bottas. A five-second penalty would put him in third place and reduce his overall lead from 14 to 11 points.
Hamilton, 36, is aiming for the eighth world title that would put him ahead of Michael Schumacher and confirm his place among the F1 greats, while Verstappen, 24, is aiming for his first championship.
Verstappen leads Hamilton 9-6 for wins after 19 races this season, and both riders have been involved in two incidents.
Hamilton was penalized for knocking out Verstappen at the British Grand Prix in July in an aggressive pass. He had then won the victory. In September, the two drivers’ race came to an end following a collision at the Italian Grand Prix.
After Qatar, the season will conclude with the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, in the port city of Jeddah on the Red Sea. The final race will take place under the spotlight in Abu Dhabi.