Hamilton avoids grid penalty, stays P2 after lap deletion

Lewis Hamilton has avoided a grid penalty after he was investigated by the stewards for failing to slow for a yellow flag during qualifying in Austria.

However, the six-time world champion has had his first lap-time of Q3 deleted after he exceeded track limits, which doesn't impact his starting position. 

The yellow flag in question was caused by Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, who slid off the road during his final lap in Q3. 

Hamilton was then shown conflicting green and yellow light panels in the moments following Bottas' off, meaning the stewards have opted to take no further action on the matter.

“The driver mentioned that he passed a green light panel in turn 5,” reads a statement from the stewards. 

“The video footage confirmed that there have been yellow flags and green light panels at the same time and therefore conflicting signals were shown to the driver. 

“Taking this into account, the stewards decide to take no further action.”

However, Hamilton was penalised for a separate incident, as his first lap time from the Q3 session was deleted after the stewards determined he had breached track limits at the final corner.

“The car left the track,” said the stewards. As no lap time has been achieved in the lap following the infringement, only the lap time in  which the infringement had happened is being deleted.”

Therefore, Hamilton will take to the starting grid in second place on Sunday afternoon in Spielberg alongside teammate Bottas as he looks to begin his 2020 campaign with a race win.

siggy74

Posts: 194

ROFL, if Lewis was in the gravel...... And say a red bull had gone through that yellow..... and taken pole from him... ;p

Would be complaining left right and center.....

Double standards here we go.... then takes a brave man to single out one person for driving through yellows ;p

Anyway......... [Read more]

  • 1
  • Jul 4 2020 - 22:11

Replies (4)

Login to reply
  • xoya

    Posts: 583

    But of course.

    • + 0
    • Jul 4 2020 - 20:22
  • siggy74

    Posts: 194

    ROFL, if Lewis was in the gravel...... And say a red bull had gone through that yellow..... and taken pole from him... ;p

    Would be complaining left right and center.....

    Double standards here we go.... then takes a brave man to single out one person for driving through yellows ;p

    Anyway...... 1,2 for Merc tomorrow, with a Mclaren in Third ;p

    • + 1
    • Jul 4 2020 - 22:11
  • RogerF1

    Posts: 501

    Odd and totally expected. Live F1 timing showed the yellow flag that preceded the ‘chequered flag’ by maybe a second or two max. to mark the end of quali’. So a driver sees conflicting “flags’ and has just seen his team mate go off but decides not to lift?

    • + 0
    • Jul 5 2020 - 00:43
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    Hamilton was always above getting penalized but now it would not be politically correct

    • + 0
    • Jul 5 2020 - 10:27

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