mobile app bar

Hamilton called up by stewards over pit entry issue

Utkarsh Bhatla
Published

Lewis Hamilton did an admirable job, winning the German GP, despite starting from P14 because of a hydraulic issue during Q1 yesterday.

Thanks to rain, some brilliant driving and a Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton found himself punching the air as he passed the chequered flag, having won a topsy-turvy German GP.

However, dark clouds hover over his German GP win, as he has been called up by the stewards regarding the pit entry issue that had occurred during lap 52.

Hamilton had cut across the pit entry and then back onto the track during the safety car period on lap 52.

Social media was ablaze as Kimi had received a 5 second penalty for a similar incident during Baku 2016.

Race notes that the FIA presents for different races is different and the Hockenheim one’s did not have any specific mention about drivers cutting back on track.

However, Hamilton has broken a regulation in accordance to the Appendix L, Chapter 4, Article 4 d) of the FIA International Sporting Code, which states, “Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the stewards), the crossing, in any direction, of the line separating the pit entry and the track by a car entering the pit lane is prohibited.”.

Hamilton spoke about the entire incident before the summons, telling the media that the entire situation was really confusing.

“It was so confusing,” said Hamilton.

“We came around Turn 16, and Kimi started turning in, they had asked me to box, and I said Kimi is pitting.

“Then they said ‘stay out.’ I was already in the lane and then I started turning out to go over the grass. Then they said no ‘stay in, but I was already back on track.

“The reason I mention it is that there are times when you do the opposite to the car in front and I felt this was a chance to do the opposite to Kimi and gain ground on the road. That is why I questioned it and ultimately it turned out to be the right thing.

“But it was so intense and really confusing – because they were all panicking on the pit wall and I was probably the only relaxed one.”

About the author

Share this article