Lewis Hamilton will begin the Monaco Grand Prix from seventh after receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen throughout qualifying.
Hamilton was adjudged to have impeded Verstappen in Q1 at Massenet after being supplied with incorrect info by his Ferrari race engineer.
The seven-time world champion was advised that Verstappen, behind him on the monitor within the first sector, was on a sluggish lap and due to this fact started to speed up again in the direction of the racing line because the Pink Bull approached.
The choice promotes Verstappen to fourth, whereas Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso are the opposite drivers to realize a place.
The stewards accepted that the radio messages have been “the cause of the impeding” however defined in asserting Hamilton’s penalty that the circumstances didn’t “amount to a mitigating factor”.
Explaining the incident earlier than his penalty had been confirmed, Hamilton advised Sky Sports activities F1: “I believe I used to be doing a great job of staying out of the way in which of everybody however then the group mentioned Max was on a quick lap so I used to be to the left, then they mentioned ‘no he is not on a quick lap’.
“I was just about to get back on power. I accelerated for 10 metres. I was off the line but for sure distracting him.”
Verstappen gave the impression to be sympathetic in the direction of Hamilton because the pair mentioned the incident instantly after the session, however maintained that his as soon as fierce rival ought to obtain a penalty.
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He advised Sky Sports activities F1: “At the time, you see the car blocking you and when you are there at high speed, it’s not nice.
“I noticed the group advised him I used to be driving sluggish once I was clearly driving quick, so it isn’t Lewis’ fault.
“I quickly chatted to Lewis about it. It’s very simple but it can’t happen. But that’s the team’s mistake.
“For those who take a look at the historical past of issues, sure [it should be a penalty], but it surely’s extra the group’s fault. However usually in qualifying they’re fairly strict on this stuff.”
The stewards’ decision in full
The stewards heard from the driver of Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), the driver of Car 1 (Max Verstappen), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, telemetry, team radio and in-car video evidence.
Car 44 was on a slow lap and off the racing line as he was approaching Turn 2. Car 1 was approaching Car 44 on a push lap.
The team first informed the driver of Car 44 that Car 1 was on a fast lap. Then they sent another message saying that Car 1 was ‘slowing down’ when in fact Car 1 was always on a push lap and was not ‘slowing down’ as suggested by the team.
This resulted in Car 44 speeding up and moving into the racing line of Car 1 entering Turn 3. Car 1 had to react to Car 44 appearing to move into the racing line. This meant that Car 1 had to move off the usual racing line and the push lap had to be aborted by Car 1.
We carefully examined the racing line taken by Car 1 in previous laps at the same area and determined that Car 44 did in fact enter the racing line that Car 1 used in previous push laps. This put it beyond doubt that Car 1 was impeded.
The driver of Car 44 expressed his displeasure at the incorrect message from the team immediately after the incident.
During the hearing, the fact of the team’s incorrect message leading to the incident was accepted by the driver of Car 44.
As with previous incidents of this nature where a driver has received inaccurate or incomplete information resulting in a car impeding another, the fact that the radio message was the cause of the impeding does not amount to a mitigating factor. We therefore impose the standard penalty of a drop of three grid positions
Sky Sports activities F1’s Monaco GP schedule
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Look again at among the most dramatic moments to have taken place on the Monaco Grand Prix
Sunday Could 25
6.55am: F3 Characteristic Race
8.35am: F2 Characteristic Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco GP build-up*
2pm: The MONACO GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Monaco GP response
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
5.30pm: The Indy 500
*additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion
Subsequent up in F1’s European triple-header is the ‘Jewel within the Crown’, the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, with Sunday’s race dwell at 2pm on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
