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(Motorsport-Total.com) – “It doesn’t matter anymore,” Lewis Hamilton said when asked about his two penalty times immediately after the Formula 1 race in Sochi. He really didn’t want to say anything more about it. At the press conference after the podium ceremony, however, Mercedes driver Hamilton reentered and found clear words.
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton believes the penalties against him are “ridiculous” Focus
“I am sure: nobody has ever received two five-second penalties for something so ridiculous,” said the World Cup leader. “I have to [aber] first see what the rules say or what I’ve done wrong. “
That’s easy to explain: before the start of the race, Hamilton had stopped at the end of the pit lane while driving to the starting grid and had done a practice start, twice, in the same way. And not in the place really meant for him, which had been recorded in advance in Formula 1 race director Michael Masi’s so-called event notes.
What’s in the “Event Notes”
In section 19.1 it literally says: “Exercise starts can only be made on the right side of the lane after the traffic light at the pit exit. […] Drivers must leave enough room to their left for another driver to pass. “
And in point 19.2 it continues: “For safety reasons and for the sake of sporting fairness, cars cannot remain in the fast lane without a justified reason as long as the pit lane is open.”
But Hamilton stopped in the fast lane, that is, on the back course of the pit lane, at the level of the junction back to the race track.
Hamilton does not acknowledge an infraction of the rules
But he himself is not aware of any guilt: “Over the years I have done this on a million tracks and it has never been questioned. You can see all my races there, at least this year.”
When practice starts, he generally “always goes a little further” and “so far without a problem,” says Hamilton.
“I often don’t want to stand on the abrasion of the rubber. This is the area where everyone practices their starts. But that’s not representative of the starting straight. So I always try to drive to a place where there is no abrasion of the rubber. the eraser”.
No individual decision, but consultation with the team.
In Sochi he drove as high as this time for the first time. The rules, the aforementioned event notes, would not have prohibited it. Hamilton: “They say you should stop on the right side after the light, but not how far you can be.”
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Hamilton answered affirmatively when asked if he had discussed the start of the exercise and the place of execution with the team. “In our opinion, it seemed fine. It is no different than Brazil: you drive to the end of the pit lane and start the race.”
“Compared to Brazil, where I was today is probably even safer because there was a lot more space left. So: an interesting decision.”
Hamilton informs race management of his intention
What Hamilton overlooks: In Brazil, for practical reasons, the start exercises always take place at the end of the pit lane, because the start is initially too narrow, so it would be impossible for workouts to start there safely.
What Hamilton acknowledges, however, is too much attention from Formula 1 stewards. “But you have to take that into account,” says Hamilton on ‘Sky’ and accuses officials of interfering with sporting events: “Just you’re trying to stop me right? “
When asked if he was really serious, Hamilton replied again, “Of course.”
Why Hamilton thinks he’s campaigning
Later, at the press conference, he weakened this statement a bit and stated that “not necessarily” he thought that way. “But it is the case that you look very closely at the best teams.”
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“Everything we have in the car is checked, over and over again. You change the rules, like now with the drive. A lot of things to put obstacles in the way so that the races are exciting, I suspect. I don’t know if the rules that They went into effect today had something to do with it, but it feels like that. “
Therefore, he must lead a “tough fight,” says Hamilton. “It’s not that I didn’t have any resistance to overcome. We will stay focused and keep fighting, we will try to do a better job and act cleaner. Then we will see what happens.”
Mercedes accepts the sanctions without protesting
Whether you’re aiming for a clarifying discussion with the stewards or with race director Masi, you still don’t know what to say. “I haven’t made a decision yet,” explains Hamilton. “Right now I’m looking forward to going home.”
You don’t get the impression that everyone involved has the same understanding of what is allowed and what is not. When asked “Are we all on the same page?” Hamilton replied, “I don’t think so.” And laughs. Hamilton continues: “We may be on different pages, but I seem to have forgotten some.”
Mercedes sporting director Toto Wolff, however, claims to respect the Formula 1 stewards and their decision. But: “In that case, I disagree with you. If they inform me correctly, the event notes say that you have to make training start after the traffic light on the right side of the pit lane. Where exactly, that is not specified” .
Hamilton’s Mercedes team will not protest, Wolff says. This leaves the two five-second penalties against Hamilton and two penalty points on his Formula 1 super license, and third place in the Russian Grand Prix behind Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.
These penalty points were canceled by the stewards. Reason: “The stewards learned that the team had ordered the pilot to carry out the starting drill in the wrong place.” That is why he fined Mercedes twice 25,000 euros.
