Hamilton excluded from Brazil F1 qualifying over DRS infringement
Lewis Hamilton has been excluded from Formula 1 qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix, resigning him to a back of field start for Saturday’s sprint race.
Hamilton topped qualifying at Interlagos on Friday afternoon, beating title rival Max Verstappen by four tenths of a second at the end of Q3.
But FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer found in his post-session checks that the DRS (drag reduction system) on Hamilton's Mercedes W12 car was not in compliance with the rules.
A hearing on Friday night was adjourned to Saturday so further evidence could be gathered, with Verstappen also being summoned to see the stewards for touching the rear wing of Hamilton's car in parc ferme, breaching the International Sporting Code.
Both drivers met separately with the stewards on Saturday morning ahead of final practice at Interlagos, with Verstappen being fined €50,000 for breaching parc ferme rules.
The stewards noted that there was "absolutely no movement" when Verstappen touched Hamilton's wing, and that he used an "insignificant force".
In a subsequent bulletin, it was confirmed that Hamilton had been excluded from the results of qualifying.
Mercedes argued in the hearing that the rear wing design had passed the FIA’s tests many times during the season and had always passed, and that as the DRS met the 85mm maximum requirement in the centre of the wing during the FIA tests, showing there was not an intent to breach the regulations.
Mercedes said it was therefore a case of “something gone wrong” that meant the wing failed the test, and had it realised sooner in qualifying, it would have sought permission from the FIA technical department to fix the part.
While the stewards were sympathetic to the argument and considered whether it was a mitigating circumstance, they “could not extend this argument to cover parts that were found out of conformity in post session checks with no obvious reason in evidence other than considering normal running at this event”, adding: “In the end, the regulations are clear and at the moment of the conformity check, the car did not comply.”
The stewards added they were “fully satisfied” Verstappen touching the wing was not the cause of the test failure and therefore “had no bearing on the case”.
The bulletin ends: “The Stewards agree with the Competitor that this is something gone wrong, rather than an intentional act or design but did not find there to be mitigating circumstances.
“Further, Art 1.3.3 of the International Sporting Code states that ‘it shall be no defence to claim that no performance advantage was obtained’.
“Therefore, the Stewards order the usual penalty for technical non-compliance of Disqualification from the qualifying session.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
It means that Hamilton will now start Saturday's sprint race from the rear of the field - potentially from the pit lane - acting as a further blow to his championship hopes against Red Bull driver Verstappen.
Mercedes confirmed on Friday that it would be taking a fresh engine for Hamilton at Interlagos, incurring a five-place grid penalty that will be applied for Sunday's grand prix.
Hamilton was boosted by his display in qualifying after finding a good set-up for his car, only for the exclusion to leave him with a mountain to climb through the rest of the weekend.
It means Verstappen will have a golden opportunity to extend his 19-point lead in the drivers' championship in Brazil, starting with the 24-lap sprint race on Saturday, which offers three points to the winner.
Verstappen will start side-by-side on the grid with Hamilton's Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, while Sergio Perez will line up third on the grid in the sister Red Bull car.
The result of the sprint race will decide the grid for Sunday's grand prix, with Hamilton dropping five places from his finishing position as a result of the engine penalty.
Related video
Verstappen fined €50k for touching Hamilton's wing
Full FIA stewards' statement on Hamilton's F1 DRS rules breach
The “glorified taxi” driver central to F1’s continued safety push
As the driver of Formula 1’s medical car, Alan van der Merwe’s job is to wait – and hope his skills aren’t needed. James Newbold hears from F1’s lesser-known stalwart.
When BMW added F1 'rocket fuel' to ignite Brabham's 1983 title push
There was an ace up the sleeve during the 1983 F1 title-winning season of Nelson Piquet and Brabham. It made a frontrunning car invincible for the last three races to see off Renault's Alain Prost and secure the combination's second world title in three years
How “abysmal” reliability blunted Brabham’s first winner
Brabham’s first world championship race-winning car was held back by unreliable Climax engines – or so its creators believed, as STUART CODLING explains
The steps Norris took to reach a new level in the 2021 F1 season
Lando Norris came of age as a grand prix driver in 2021. McLaren’s young ace is no longer an apprentice or a quietly capable number two – he’s proved himself a potential winner in the top flight and, as Stuart Codling finds out, he’s ready to stake his claim to greatness…
How Fangio set the bar for Schumacher and Hamilton in F1
Juan Manuel Fangio, peerless on track and charming off it, established the gold standard of grand prix greatness. Nigel Roebuck recalls a remarkable champion.
How Russell sees his place in the Mercedes-Hamilton F1 superteam
George Russell joining Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this year gives it arguably the best line-up in Formula 1 – if it can avoid too many fireworks. After serving his apprenticeship at Williams, Russell is the man that Mercedes team believes can lead it in the post-Hamilton era, but how will he fare against the seven-time champion? Motorsport.com heard from the man himself
How F1 pulled off its second pandemic season and its 2022 implications
OPINION: The Formula 1 season just gone was the second to be completed under the dreaded shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in many ways it was much more ‘normal’ than 2020. Here’s the story of how the championship’s various organisers delivered a second challenging campaign, which offers a glimpse at what may be different next time around
The adapt or die mentality that will shape F1's future
As attitudes towards the motor car and what powers it change, Formula 1 must adapt its offering. Mark Gallagher ponders the end of fossil fuels