F1 Sao Paulo GP: Lewis Hamilton cleared after start procedure investigation, Mercedes front-row confirmed

Lewis Hamilton has been cleared following an investigation over a possible start procedure infringement, confirming Mercedes’ front-row lock out at the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. 
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes

Hamilton turned in an impressive recovery drive from eighth on the grid to finish third behind Mercedes teammate168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: George Russell and Ferrari’s168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Carlos Sainz in Saturday’s sprint race in Sao Paulo. 

With Sainz set to drop five positions for an engine change, Mercedes will lock out the front row of the grid for the first time th🏅is 👍season for Sunday’s grand prix. 

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However, there was s🍬ome doubt over Hamilton’s third-place finish when it was announced that he - along with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu - would be investigated after the sprint for an incident relating to the start procedure. 

All three infringements we🐷re looked at and cleared by the Sao Paulo stewards, meaning no penalties were handed ou🐻t. 

(L to R): Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 with Felipe Massa (BRA) FIA Drivers' Commission President in Sprint parc
(L to R): Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 with Felipe Massa (BRA) FIA Drivers' Commission…

"The Stewards reviewed the start sequence, as it was observed that multiple cars were potentially out of their ꦗgrid box in violation of Article 8.6.1.a) of the FIA International Sporting Code, being either🎐 to the left or right of the grid box," an FIA statement read. 

"Having reviewed all available angles of video, and makin💖g measurements on the grid, the Stewards noted that the grid boxes were slightly ൲smaller than usual and that the drivers’ visibility makes compliance extremely difficult and that no driver was in a position that gained any advantage. 

"The Stewards are the🍷refore satisfied to take no further action."

Speaking before the inv🌌estigation, Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said he felt the onboard footage showed Hamilton had stayed within his grid box.&nbs🌄p;

“It may be linked to positioning in the box, but we’ve got the onboard, and it looks like we’re very, very conservative in where we 🍸positioned it in terms of the line,” Shovlin told Sky Sports after qualifying.

“Whether it was a sensor issue, I don’t know. From the images we’ve seen, there doesn’t look🦂 to be any hint that we were outside of that box.”

Relief for Gasly but Stroll penalised 

Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sprint Day.-
Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao…

Pierre Gasly avoided moving clꦺoser to trig💖gering an automatic one-race ban following a stewards’ investigation. 

The Frenchman was issued with just a formal warning for driving unnecessarily slowly during a🅠 reconnaissance lap before the start of Saturday’s sprint race. 

Gasly is on the verge of becoming the168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: fi✱rst F1 driver to receive a race ban for accumulating 12 penalty points over a 12-month period, but the AlphaTauri driꦦver remains on 10. 

Meanwhile, Lance Stroll was handed a 10-second time penalty🎀 and three penalty points on his licence for forcing Aston Martin teammate Sebastian Vettel off the road in a “dangerous manner”. 

The Canadian now has a total o🌠f eight penalty points on his licence for the current 12-month period. 

Yuki Tsunoda will𝓰 start from the pitlane after parts of his car were changed in parc ferme.

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