Max Verstappen is handed a let-off as F1 stewards rule new footage of his clash with Lewis Hamilton at the Brazilian Grand Prix is NOT significant – and title race leader WON’T face a points deduction
Max Verstappen and Red Bull have survived an appeal from Mercedes on whether the Dutchman should be punished following his defensive driving against Lewis Hamilton at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s move that saw him as well as Hamilton forced off track at Interlagos went unpunished on the day, but Mercedes sought a review after new footage from Verstappen’s car emerged after the race.
Race stewards admitted that the on-board camera footage was ‘new’, ‘unavailable at the time’ and ‘relevant’ but crucially was not significant in determining a different outcome to the racing incident verdict given during the race.
With just 14 points separating Verstappen from Hamilton with three races to go, the ruling could have had a dramatic impact on the world championship.
Hamilton did manage to eventually pass Verstappen to win in Brazil. A possible punishment could have seen Verstappen hit with a retrospective five-second time penalty which would have dropped him to third behind Valtteri Bottas and trim his title lead down to 11 points.
More to follow…