Western Morning News (Saturday)
Mercedes criticise Red Bull over appeal
MERCEDES have launched a stinging attack on Red Bull by accusing their Formula One rivals of a “concerted attempt to tarnish Lewis Hamilton’s good name and sporting integrity”.
After it emerged Red Bull failed in their bid for Hamilton’s 10-second penalty following his opening-lap collision with Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix to be reviewed, Mercedes went on the offensive.
In a statement, the world champions said: “The Mercedes F1 Team welcomes the decision of the stewards to reject Red Bull Racing’s right of review.
“In addition to bringing this incident to a close, we hope that this decision will mark the end of a concerted attempt by the senior management of Red Bull Racing to tarnish the good name and sporting integrity of Lewis Hamilton, including in the documents submitted for their unsuccessful right of review.
“We now look forward to going racing this weekend and to continuing our hard-fought competition for the 2021 Formula One World Championship.”
It is understood that Red Bull’s evidence log, which was presented to the British Grand Prix stewards via a conference call on Thursday afternoon, accused Hamilton of driving dangerously and, in effect, causing the collision on purpose.
In a statement F1’s governing body, the FIA, said the stewards noted “with some concern, certain allegations made” by Red Bull who felt Hamilton’s punishment was too lenient.
Team principal Christian Horner even claimed at Silverstone that Hamilton put Verstappen’s life in jeopardy following the 180mph shunt.
Hamilton recovered from the penalty to claim a controversial win, while Verstappen did not score a point after his afternoon ended in the barriers and latterly hospital.
Red Bull presented a crash dossier to the British GP stewards in the hope that Hamilton’s punishment would be reviewed.
The document, understood to be more than 20 pages, included a number of slides using GPS data of Hamilton’s collision with Verstappen and a comparison of the Briton’s race-winning move on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the same corner.
Red Bull even performed a reenactment of Hamilton’s first lap of the British Grand Prix using their reserve driver Alex Albon during a filming day at Silverstone last week.
But the FIA panel ruled that Red Bull’s evidence did not carry enough fresh evidence to warrant a re-trial.
As such, Hamilton’s 99th win stands with the world champion heading into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix just eight points adrift of Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Hamilton trailed team-mate Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes headed the time charts in yesterday’s second practice ahead of tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished fastest in the opening action of the weekend at a sun-cooked Hungaroring. But the Silver Arrows responded in the second running, with Bottas finishing just 0.027 seconds clear of Hamilton, and Verstappen third, three tenths adrift.
The slow and twisty circuit, a dozen miles outside of Budapest, is one Hamilton has enjoyed in his career and a win would rank as his fourth in succession in Hungary. He is also attempting to become the first driver to win at the same venue on nine occasions, and the first to reach three figures with a landmark century of triumphs.
West Country driver Lando Norris, on an impressive run of 15 consecutive points finishes - the current longest streak in the sport - finished ninth for McLaren.
Earlier, Yuki Tsunoda crashed out of first practice after losing control of his Alpha Tauri through Turn 5.
The Japanese rookie missed the majority of the second running as his team repaired his wounded machine.