Mercedes have called for a formal and fresh investigation into the manoeuvre that saw Max Verstappen force his championship rival off the track during the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Although the stewards reviewed the incident at the time and decided that no punishment was required, new on-board footage from the two cars that has since come to light has prompted a call to review that decision.
If found guilty, Verstappen can be handed a grid penalty for this weekend’s inaugural Qatar GRAND Prix.
The incident in question occurred on Lap 48 of the race when Hamilton, having chased down Verstappen, drew alongside him coming out of turn four. Hamilton appeared to be half-a-car length ahead. However, instead of giving way, Verstappen held his line, forcing both cars off the track, but with Hamilton forced the wider.
The new footage, unavailable to the stewards at the time, allegedly shows that Verstappen deliberately forced his rival off the circuit, something that it is illegal to do.
At the time, Red Bull argued that it was just a racing incident and the drivers should be left to race. Mercedes, on the other hand, regarded the decision not to punish Verstappen as a joke, and indicative of the stewarding calls all weekend which they felt went against them.
Hamilton eventually passed Verstappen for the win, 11 laps later. However, in Championship, every point is vital in the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship. Giving Verstappen a penalty for Qatar can still have a significant impact.
At least the two cars did not crash into each other in Brazil, unlike what happened in Silverstone and the Monza. At the British Grand Prix, the cars came together on the first lap, with Hamilton judged to be the guilty party on that occasion.
At the Italian Grand Prix, the boot was on the other foot. Verstappen ruled to be the transgressor after a crash which left his Red Bull on top of Hamilton’s Mercedes.