Mercedes seekng review of non-penalty
Mercedes will argue today for a review of the decision not to penalize Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix for an incident in which Lewis Hamilton was run off course as he attempted a pass for the lead.
The FIA said that Mercedes won the right to review the incident in which Verstappen appeared to force the seven-time champion off track. The stewards noted the incident at the time, but ruled it a racing incident and took no action against the Red Bull driver.
Hamilton made the racewinning pass 11 laps later to win at Interlagos on Sunday. It cut Verstappen’s lead in the standings to 14 points with three races remaining.
Even though Hamilton won, Mercedes believes Verstappen should have been penalized.
The hearing today ahead of the inaugural Qatar GP is to determine if Mercedes has met the criteria for a review. Mercedes has based its challenge on “new evidence unavailable to the stewards at the time of their decision.” It is believed to be onboard camera footage of the incident from both cars.
If the stewards find Verstappen should be penalized, he could receive a fivesecond time penalty applied to last Sunday’s race. He finished second ahead of Hamilton teammate Valtteri Bottas, and the time penalty would drop him to third. It would cut his lead from 14 points to 11.
• Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will represent the United States in the upcoming international Race of Champions, an event he won with Jeff Gordon in 2002.
Johnson will compete in the event scheduled Feb. 4-6 in Pite Havsbad, Sweden for the “Champion of Champions” title in the individual ROC competition.
The ROC “Snow + Ice” World Final will be held on the frozen Baltic Sea, 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle.
“The short days, the brutal cold and the changing conditions will make Sweden really well suited for all-round talents like Jimmie,” ROC president Fredrik Johnsson said. “He does not have much experience with four-wheel drive, but he is very skilled off-road and at high speeds, so I’m sure he’ll adjust very quickly just like he did in 2002.”