The Red Bull team have requested the FIA review the clash between their driver Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix. Red Bull were unhappy with the decision at Silverstone and have decided to insist the case is reviewed by the stewards. The FIA, F1’s governing body, will hold a video conference hearing at 3pm on Thursday before this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton was attempting to pass Verstappen on the opening lap of the British GP when they touched as Hamilton went up the inside of the fast Copse corner. Verstappen was sent hurtling into the barriers at 180mph with a 51g impact, ending his race. He climbed from the car and was taken to hospital for a check-up and later given the all clear.
Hamilton was adjudged by the stewards to have caused a collision and was given a 10-second time penalty but nonetheless went on to win the race, reducing his deficit to Verstappen in the world championship from 33 to eight points.
Verstappen later accused the world champion of “dangerous, disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour”. The Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was furious at the incident, insisting that Hamilton had put Verstappen’s life at risk and calling him an “amateur” and “desperate”.
Red Bull have the right to call for a review within 14 days of the race and have done so believing the penalty was too lenient. Red Bull and Mercedes will now both present their case to the stewards.
Under FIA rules the review cannot simply be a re-examination of the case or an appeal based on disagreement with the original decision but requires Red Bull to submit fresh evidence that must constitute “a significant and relevant new element which was unavailable to the parties seeking the preview at the time of the decision concerned”.
The stewards will consider whether Red Bull’s submission constitutes new information, if they accept it is they can reopen an investigation into the incident and may take further punitive action.
The stewards at Silverstone had access to the video footage and both teams’ telemetry data at the time so these factors are unlikely to play a part in Red Bull’s case. Three members of each team can present evidence and Red Bull may wish Verstappen to do so since he was unable to at Silverstone having been taken to hospital when the incident was investigated.
In 2019 Ferrari requested a similar review into Sebastian Vettel’s penalty for pushing Hamilton wide off-track in Canada. Ferrari submitted additional video footage, analysis, photographs and Vettel’s testimony but they were rejected as not being deemed sufficiently significant or relevant.
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Meanwhile, Hamilton has made a personal pledge of £20m to support his new project Mission 44, a charitable foundation aimed at supporting and empowering young people from underrepresented groups in the UK. The world champion has been outspoken about making a difference in equality and diversity and recently announced the findings of his own Hamilton Foundation’s research into diversity in motorsport. The Mission 44 programme will attempt to act on the recommendations made in the report but beyond the racing industry to give greater opportunities to underrepresented young people.
His Mercedes team also announced their project to work alongside Hamilton’s initiative, to improve diversity in motor racing. The Ignite programme is a partnership between Hamilton and the team backed financially by both parties with the aim of improving diversity and representation in students studying Stem subjects, engineering and in the motor racing industry.
“In my early life, I experienced first-hand how coming from an underrepresented background can affect your future,” said Hamilton. “But, luckily for me, I was able to overcome those odds through opportunity and support. I want to ensure that other young people from similar backgrounds are able to do the same.”
