The FIA (International Automobile Federation) announced this Saturday (13) that Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the practice that defined the starting grid for the sprint race of the São Paulo GP, which takes place this afternoon, at 4:30 pm.
The Englishman had made the fastest lap on Friday (12) and would start on pole in the short race that will define the positions for the complete race, on Sunday (14), at 14:00. Now, with the punishment, he will start last in the sprint.
“The commissioners decide that the 44 car [de Lewis Hamilton] failed the indicated test and therefore violates Art 3.6.3 of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations”, says an excerpt of the FIA communiqué. “The usual penalty for technical non-compliance is disqualification from the qualifying session.”
In addition to starting at the back of the pack in the sprint, the World Cup runner-up will have to take another penalty. As he had to change the combustion engine in his car, he will lose five positions on the starting grid of the race.
The Dutchman Max Verstappen, leader of the season, was fined 50,000 euros (about R$312,000) for touching the wing of Hamilton’s car after Friday’s activity. In a statement, the FIA explained the reason for the punishment of the Red Bull pilot.
“It is clear to the stewards that it has become a habit for drivers to touch cars after qualifying and races. This was also Verstappen’s explanation,” says an excerpt of the statement from the entity. “However, it is a violation of the closed park regulations and has significant potential to cause harm.”
With Hamilton being punished, the Worlds leader will start in first this Saturday, alongside Valteri Bottas, from Mercedes, who climbs to second position.
Hours after the qualifying practice dispute this Friday (12), the FIA technical delegate, Joe Bauer, found something wrong in the drag reduction system of Hamilton’s car. The F1 regulations stipulate that the gap between the rear wing blades must be, at most, 85 mm. A space larger than this could mean a competitive advantage.
Bauer referred the matter to the administrators, who decided to penalize the Brit.
The decision could have come out on Friday night, but was dragged until this Saturday (13) because of interference from Max Verstappen. A video taken by a fan and circulating on social media shows the Dutchman touching the rear wing of Hamilton’s car after the qualifying session.
According to the FIA International Sporting Code, “in a closed park regime [como os carros já estavam após a sessão], no operation, check, adjustment or repair is authorized without the express authorization of the stewards.” In other words, the season leader could not have touched the rival’s car.
The Red Bull pilot, then, was called at 9:30 am this Saturday to provide clarification. The hearing was quick and lasted less than 15 minutes, but there was no official announcement of the meeting. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s bosses were drinking coffee in the paddock and appearing somewhat relaxed.
At 10:30 am, Mercedes representatives were called again to discuss the matter. This meeting lasted about 1 hour and ended at 11:25 am, about half an hour before the second free practice, scheduled for 12:00. The activity on the track had already ended when the decisions about the punishments were communicated.
This will be the first year that the Brazilian stage will receive the new starting grid definition format. The order of the pilots on the track will be defined in the sprint race —with around 24 laps— which will take place this Saturday (13th). The complete race will be played on Sunday, with broadcast by Band.
In 2019, Max Verstappen took pole and won the race in the city of São Paulo — in 2020 Brazil ended up outside the F1 calendar because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the sprint race, only the top three places receive points: the first one gets three points, the second one gets two, and the third one gets one point.
With the championship drawing to a close, every advantage can be decisive. At this time, 19 points separate the leader and runner-up of the season —(312.5 against 293.5).
After Brazil, the championship will have three more competitions: Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
In addition to the Band, F1 announced this Friday (12) that the match this Saturday (13) will be broadcast by the streamer channel Gaules on Twitch.
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