After the victory came the damper!
Lewis Hamilton (36) set the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying in Interlagos / Brazil, thus securing first place on the grid for the sprint race on Saturday (8.30 p.m. / Sky). But it wobbled right after qualifying!
A good one and a half hours after the end of the session, the Fia announced that the car with the number 44, the Mercedes from Hamilton, had been examined. It was found that part of the rear wing did not conform to the rules, wrote technology commissioner Jo Bauer (60).
The Formula 1 racing referees are now looking at the matter. At 7.15 p.m. local time, i.e. 11:15 p.m. German time, those responsible for Mercedes were invited to a hearing.
According to “Auto Motor und Sport”, Red Bull had already complained about the Mercedes rear wing to the Fia before qualifying. He is more flexible than allowed. This is how the Brause racing team explains the top speed advantage that Mercedes has over the Red Bull on the straights.
What are the consequences of Hamilton and Mercedes?
A starting place penalty for the sprint race on Saturday would be possible. It is also possible that Mercedes will have to make a change to the Hamilton racing car. Then the Briton would have to start out of the pit lane, i.e. the very last one.
In the sprint race over approx. 100 km and a good 30 minutes he could make up a few positions with his strong car, but Hamilton has a lousy starting position in the main race on Sunday (6 p.m. / Sky) anyway: By changing his internal combustion engine, he has five places penalty for Sunday already certain.
In addition, a move back to the end of the field would also destroy the chance for points in the sprint race (three points for first place, two for second place, one for third place). And: The result on Saturday determines the starting order for the main race on Sunday.
Should Hamilton actually be punished, it promises to be a really nasty weekend for Mercedes – and possibly a preliminary decision in the World Cup, in which Max Verstappen (24) in the Red Bull is already 17 points ahead …