Lewis Hamilton prevented a penalty for failing to decelerate when yellow flags had been waved twice throughout dash qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion was eradicated in SQ2 after his closing lap was marred by Charles Leclerc’s spin, leading to two yellow flags.
Hamilton was pressured to drop again, leaving him eleventh on the grid for Saturday’s dash race.
Nevertheless, Hamilton was instantly topic to an investigation as he could have did not decelerate sufficient.
His closing lap was eliminated resulting from a double yellow flag, however he nonetheless wasn’t quick sufficient to complete within the high ten.
He has since been cleared of any wrongdoing and can begin the dash race from eleventh place.
Stewards defined that there was ample proof to point out that Hamilton didn’t see the lights on.
lewis hamilton
Though Hamilton lifted up, the truth that he noticed Leclerc’s automobile meant that he technically by no means slowed down ‘sufficient’.
Stewards agreed {that a} reprimand towards Hamilton was justified given the circumstances.
“In direction of the tip of Q2, automobile No. 16 (LEC) spun on the exit of Flip 10, leading to two yellow flags. Instantly afterwards, automobile No. 44 (HAM) entered the identical nook and simply because it was handing over, two yellow gentle panels on the left facet of the observe had been activated,” the FIA stated in an announcement.
“In the course of the listening to, HAM defined that he didn’t see the sunshine sign. On-board footage confirmed that the sunshine was illuminated for less than a cut up second earlier than HAM handed the sign. As the motive force’s focus was clearly on the turn-in level and he was seeking to the correct of the observe, the stewards discovered it believable that he didn’t truly understand the sign.”
“Nevertheless, HAM admitted throughout the listening to that he noticed automobile No. 16 (LEC) stopped on the facet of the observe and noticed a inexperienced gentle forward. He subsequently needed to no less than notice that he was within the yellow sector and because of this clearly needed to decelerate.”
“Upon inspecting the telemetry, stewards discovered that the motive force reacted with hesitation whereas urgent the accelerator, however didn’t cut back velocity as required.
“In comparable circumstances prior to now, the Stewards have deemed it acceptable to impose a reprimand quite than the usual five-place grid penalty set out within the pointers. From a consistency perspective, the Stewards consider {that a} reprimand is ample on this case as nicely.”
Ferrari teammate Leclerc will line up from eighth on the grid, confirming Ferrari’s lack of tempo at Interlagos.
