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The world champion, who was deprived of setting Michael Schumacher’s winning record in Russia, feels haunted by the race judges and raises questions about a fair judiciary under the supervision of the World Automobile Federation (FIA) . Race director Michael Masi also received a volley from the superstar. “Are we on the same wavelength? I don’t think so,” Hamilton said.
The Briton even suspected a conspiracy. He said his powerful Mercedes team was constantly being checked. The rules would be changed to make the races more exciting. “It seems we have to fight the resistance,” complained the World Cup leader.
The cause of all the annoyance was the two penalties for the 35-year-old’s trial start outside the designated area at the pit lane exit, depriving him of his fair chance of victory. The Spanish newspaper “El País” saw the “slip of a beginner.” “He had no advantage,” said team boss Toto Wolff, disgusted.
Mercedes chief engineer Andrew Shovlin, on the other hand, emphasized that it was already known at the time that the rulers would not appreciate Hamilton’s unconventional choice for kickoff exercises. Hamilton asked over the radio if he could start the trial earlier. He got the go-ahead from his crew.
“We didn’t realize how much he wanted to go further,” Shovlin said. “We didn’t see the first (start / note). When we saw the second, we already knew they wouldn’t like it.” The Mercedes team thought that Hamilton would position himself a little closer within the allowed zone, so the race direction cannot issue a clear sanction. “But when we saw the position of the car, it wasn’t a big surprise that they didn’t approve.
The team therefore took responsibility and had to pay a fine of 25,000 euros. Hamilton was spared additional penalty points on his criminal record after Mercedes’ protest. However, at eight counters, he also leads these stats and initially has little room for further rule-breaking.
In his public remarks after the race, the defending champion saw nothing wrong. As an apprentice, you will try to protect yourself against suspected arbitrariness by commissioners in the future, with an in-depth study of the rules. “I will make sure that from now on I stay squeaky clean and don’t give them any more reasons,” Hamilton promised.
His fellow drivers showed understanding of Hamilton’s payroll. “I have long told myself that I try to avoid the commissioners on the track. Meeting you at the hotel or at the bar is not bad, but you should avoid your brother on race weekends,” said the driver of Red Bull Max Verstappen. . Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc said: “Lewis didn’t really do much wrong during the year.”
The six-time champion also can’t expect leniency in the final streak of the season. “When Lewis wanted to talk about something, I told him, like all the other drivers, that my door was always open,” said race director Masi, but immediately emphasized: “If you break the rules, it doesn’t matter if it’s Lewis Hamilton or one of the drivers. another 19 driver is “.
