HAM SLAM Inquiry chalks off Lewis’ pole lap
LEWIS HAMILTON’S title hopes were dealt a major setback after he was excluded from qualifying and demoted to the back of the grid for the sprint race.
FIA stewards determined that Hamilton’s Mercedes fell foul of the technical regulations and his pole lap at Interlagos was chalked off.
Hamilton’s punishment promoted rival Max Verstappen to the front of the grid for the sprint race.
Hamilton starts in 10th position after finishing an incredible fifth in the sprint race, with Valtteri Bottas on pole.
That incorporates a five-place grid penalty for today’s main event after Mercedes changed his engine for a fifth time this season.
Verstappen was also investigated after he touched
Hamilton’s car in the aftermath of qualifying here.
But the Dutchman escaped with a £42,000 fine and no further punishment.
Hamilton trails Verstappen by 19 points with just four rounds left.The penalty comes as a massive blow to the Brit’s dream of winning a record-breaking eighth world title, with Verstappen now in the driving seat to extend his championship lead.
Just 78 points are available following today’s Grand Prix.
The stewards delivered their verdict at 2.04pm local time in Sao Paulo, nearly 20 hours after launching their investigation when Hamilton’s rear wing failed a scrutineering test.
Mercedes sporting director Ron Meadows and trackside chief engineer Simon Cole fought Hamilton’s corner with the stewards on Friday night – and again yesterday morning.
But although the stewards were in agreement with
Mercedes that “something had gone wrong” with Hamilton’s rear wing – “rather than an intentional act or design” – the penalty was applied because there were no “mitigating circumstances”.
The stewards were also “fully satisfied” that Verstappen did not interfere with Hamilton’s car.
After Bottas won the sprint to take pole, he said: “The start was the key,” said the Finn. “We gambled with the soft tyre and it worked. It was about surviving to the end. It worked out perfectly.”
Verstappen added: “The start was not the best. Nevertheless, our pace was quite good but when you get close here you cannot really pass.”