Mercedes formally call for a new investigation into Max Verstappen after on-board footage of his Red Bull running Lewis Hamilton off track emerges from dramatic Brazilian GP battle
- Mercedes have formally called for a fresh investigation into Max Verstappen
- The Red Bull star ran Lewis Hamilton off track during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
- The FIA did not punish Verstappen at the time and Hamilton still went on to win
- However, new on-board footage has resulted in fresh calls from Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team upped the ante in the fractious fight for the Formula One world championship by writing to the FIA requesting that they reconsider their decision not to penalise Max Verstappen for his defensive driving at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Sportsmail has exclusively seen the submission sent by Mercedes’ sporting director Ron Meadows to Peter Bayer, the governing body’s secretary general.
Although neither Mercedes nor the FIA wanted the correspondence to be seen, we can reveal the details of the team’s case, which challenges Verstappen escaping punishment for running Hamilton off the road during their titanic duel for the lead 48 laps into Sunday’s race.
Mercedes have called for the FIA to open a new investigation into Max Verstappen’s forcing of Lewis Hamilton off the track in Brazil (pictured: Mercedes chief Toto Wolff)
Verstappen appeared to force Hamilton off the track on lap 48 of the thrilling race in Sao Paulo
On-board footage unavailable during the race has seen Mercedes call for a fresh inquest
Hamilton won after later passing his Red Bull rival. But Mercedes are effectively suggesting that Verstappen should be retrospectively penalised.
Every point is crucial with Hamilton trailing the Dutchman by 14 with three races left and 78 points up for grabs.
Referring primarily to previously unseen on-board footage of the Turn 4 incident from Verstappen’s cockpit, Meadows writes: ‘In accordance with Article 14.1.1 of the International Sporting Code (“Right of Review”) Mercedes bring to the attention of the stewards “a significant and relevant new element… unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time”.
‘In particular, Mercedes request that the stewards review the following but not limited to: i) forward facing on-board camera footage, and ii) 360-degree on-board camera footage, each recorded from the time of the incident.
‘Mercedes believe that the (previously) unavailable footage is relevant because it shows the overall position of Car 33 (Verstappen’s) throughout the incident and it enables the steering inputs applied by the driver of Car 33 to be assessed relative to the position of Car 44 (Hamilton’s).’
Mercedes said that the emergence of new evidence means the incident should be investigated
Verstappen saw his championship lead shrink to 14 points after Sunday’s race in Brazil
The FIA must decide if the appeal is admissible, with the incident ‘noted’ at the time but not referred to the stewards.
Mercedes are buoyed by race director Michael Masi saying that if new evidence emerged the matter would be re-examined.
A five-second penalty would relegate Verstappen to third, cutting Hamilton’s deficit to 11 points.
A grid penalty for this Sunday’s grand prix in Qatar is another possibility.
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