Lewis Hamilton managed to scrape a point from his calamitous weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix, despite Mercedes facing penalties after the race.
The F1 event at Interlagos, which was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, was nothing short of chaotic, with George Russell securing fourth place and his illustrious teammate coming in 10th. Hamilton salvaged a single point from what was an otherwise nightmarish three days, having only managed an 11th-place finish in Saturday’s sprint race.
The qualifying session was pushed to Sunday due to torrential rain, leaving the 39-year-old to start from 16th position after being eliminated in Q1. As the Grand Prix was about to commence, the downpour persisted, but the race had to be halted before it even started when Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll skidded onto the gravel during the formation lap.
In the confusion that ensued, Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda, Russell, and Liam Lawson all took an extra formation lap without clearance. This resulted in a 10-minute delay for the race start, and in this time, both Hamilton and Russell had their tyre pressures adjusted again. FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer was informed of the incident, reports the Express.
“As this is in contradiction to TD003 N, items 2. c) and 2. h) i., I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration,” he stated. Bauer also noted that, in his view, the tyre pressure was released while the wheels were still on the car.
(Image: Formula 1 via Getty Images)
The FIA has settled the issue, fining Mercedes a total of just over £8,000 for infractions but allowing Hamilton and Russell to retain their race positions. They explained the verdict, noting that Toto Wolff’s squad was shown leniency due to the exceptional circumstances.
“Given the unusual circumstances surrounding the compressed time table, aborted start, the grid access logistics and given the stipulation from the Technical Delegate that the tyre pressures were within the correct parameters, the stewards determine that a fine for a breach of procedure is appropriate in this case,” the governing body disclosed.
They added: “Normally a breach of this nature, within a competitive session would carry a sporting penalty but it is not appropriate in this case. However, this decision should not be considered as a precedent for any similar breach in the future as the circumstances are considered unique.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Hamilton aired his grievances regarding his W15’s performance throughout the weekend, telling Sky Sports with evident frustration: “It’s like a plank of wood.”
He added: “There’s just no suspension. It’s just bouncing on the tyres everywhere, and you can’t get the power anywhere. I think it’s definitely the worst ride we’ve ever had, especially when we are going through corners. It’s so stiff.”
Hamilton voiced optimism that the season’s last three circuits in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi would be smoother rides, but he didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts on the gruelling season with Mercedes, admitting: “I could happily go and take a holiday right now.”