Hamilton issued grid penalty following Red Bull appeal

  • Published on 05 Jul 2020 14:27
  • 4
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton has lost his second-place starting position for the Austrian Grand Prix following an appeal from Red Bull.

The six-time world champion will now start the race from fifth on the grid, promoting Max Verstappen to the front row alongside Valtteri Bottas.

On Saturday, Hamilton avoided a grid penalty after he was investigated for ignoring yellow flags, which were deployed when his teammate Valtteri Bottas slipped off the circuit in the final moments of Q3.

However, Red Bull lodged an appeal of the decision with just over one hour to go for the season-opening race.

A statement from the stewards on Saturday revealed that it had obtained new video footage in a 360-degree view of Hamilton's lap.

“The new video footage clearly shows that a yellow light panel was flashing on the left side of the track in turn five,” it said. “A green light panel was flashing at the end of marshalling sector nine.

“Taking into account these facts, the stewards determine that decision 33 will be reversed and the above mentioned penalty is being imposed.”

Lando Norris will take his best-ever career start from third on the grid and will be followed by the second Red Bull of Alexander Albon.

On Saturday, Hamilton said of the incident: “I came around the corner and got on the power and I thought that Valtteri had perhaps just gone wide and carried on.

“So I was looking out for the gravel on the track and for a car on the track but there was nothing there so I just continued on. It happened pretty quick and it was a pretty big puff of dust.”

Replies (4)

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  • JuJuHound

    Posts: 352

    So Valterii will win unharmed and Lewis will fight from the back what give us some entertainment

    • + 0
    • Jul 5 2020 - 14:36
  • Manto02

    Posts: 93

    Now you need a team protest before fia gives a penalty? Ridiculous

    • + 2
    • Jul 5 2020 - 14:41
    • it was a bit weird. This was clearly. penalty. Seems like FIA made up for it by also penalizing his incident with Albon. I thought that was more of a racing incident

      • + 0
      • Jul 5 2020 - 19:57
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    I agree I think he knew Bottas went off. I Just replayed the Alvin crash Lewis an dalton wer way down the inside Lewis intentionally unwound. If I were Rbr I would also protest to see the telemetry on Hamilton’s car he in wound it

    • + 0
    • Jul 5 2020 - 20:37

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