Why Hamilton and Rosberg avoided penalties for Spain crash

In a lengthy explanation issued after deciding that no action should be taken, the stewards explained that Rosberg had been well within his rights to close the door on Hamilton after realising he was in the wrong engine mode.

And although Hamilton had been able to get his front wing just alongside Rosberg's right rear wheel, it was not enough for him to stake claim to that portion of the track.

Situations like this are governed by Article 27.7 of F1's Sporting Regulations.

It states: "Any driver defending his position on a straight, and before any braking area, may use the full width of the track during his first move, provided no significant portion of the car attempting to pass is alongside his.

"Whilst defending in this way the driver may not leave the track without justifiable reason. For the avoidance of doubt, if any part of the front wing of the car attempting to pass is alongside the rear wheel of the car in front this will be deemed to be a 'significant portion'.

Here is what the FIA statement regarding the Hamilton/Rosberg incident said.

The FIA statement in full

The incident concerned started when Car 6 dropped into an incorrect power mode, as set by the driver prior to the start.

This created a significant power differential between Car 6 and Car 44 at the exit of Turn 3 coming onto the straight, resulting in as much as a 17kph speed difference between the two cars on the straight.

Car 6 moved to the right to defend his position, as is his right under Art 27.7 of the Sporting regulations. Simultaneously Car 44 as the significantly faster car with, at that time, apparent space on the inside, moved to make the pass. Art 27.7 requires the leading driver to leave room, if there is a "significant portion" of the car attempting to pass alongside.

Car 44 had a portion of his front wing inside Car 6 small fractions of a second prior to Car 44 having to leave the right side of the track to avoid an initial collision, which may have led him to believe he had the right to space on the right. Once on the grass on the side of the track Car 44 was no longer in control of the situation.

Having heard extensively from both drivers and from the team, the Stewards determined that Car 6 had the right to make the manoeuvre that he did and that Car 44's attempt to overtake was reasonable, and that the convergence of events led neither driver to be wholly or predominantly at fault, and therefore take no further action.