F1 stewards make decision on changing Brazilian GP result as Lewis Hamilton learns fate

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were both under investigation for hours after the Brazilian Grand Prix with Mercedes accused if illegally changing their tyre pressures on the grid

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both avoided sporting punishments after their Mercedes team changed the pressures of their tyres when they were not supposed to.

Cameras mounted aboard their cars showed mechanics doing that work after the wheels had been put onto the cars, just before the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix. But the rules are specific and state the pressures can only be changed before they are attached.

At the same time, the circumstances were highly unusual. The race start had been aborted after Lance Stroll crashed on the formation lap and mechanics ran back onto the grid to prepare the cars again with a 10-minute warning given before the new start, while the Aston Martin was recovered.

The FIA technical delegate reported what had happened to the stewards so that they could consider what the best course of action to take was. And, after hours of deliberation, they decided against punishing either of the drivers.

They were allowed to keep their race positions - Russell had finished fourth while Hamilton struggled for pace and limped home in 10th place. Instead, Mercedes were fined £4,200 for each car after the stewards decided a sporting punishment was "not appropriate".

The official decision document read: "Given the unusual circumstances surrounding the compressed time table, aborted start, the grid access logistics and given the stipulation from the technical delegate that the tyre pressures were within the correct parameters, the stewards determine that a fine for a breach of procedure is appropriate in this case.

"Normally a breach of this nature, within a competitive session would carry a sporting penalty but it is not appropriate in this case. However, this decision should not be considered as a precedent for any similar breach in the future as the circumstances are considered unique."

It was one of several cases still under investigation for hours after the race. Several drivers, including Russell and pole-sitter Lando Norris, were also at risk of punishment for setting off on another formation lap after the 'aborted start' instruction was given, when they should have remained in their grid spots.

More than half of the grid drove off from the grid at that moment, and several were placed under investigation, during which it was decided that Norris and Russell, as the drivers on the front row, had enabled the others to breach procedure - but still the Brits were only fined £4,200 each.

"As the drivers were on the front row of the grid this triggered following drivers to take similar action," the stewards concluded. "In the opinion of the stewards, the drivers NOR and RUS precipitated the action of the drivers on the grid directly behind them."

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